I ordered a Crower 53229 (level 2) camshaft for my engine rebuild and, today, the engine shop called and asked why I hadn't gotten new springs. I didn't think I needed new springs (this is going into a 4.6L), so I called Crower and apparently their website does not have the right info (they are fixing it). I have to have this, which is a mere 300 dollars additional to what I paid for this.

What a drag, especially since I already bought stock lifters. They say this kit's lifters provide better oiling than stock and it has stronger springs for the additional lift.

Anyway, I thought I would pass that along to anyone planning to use a Crower '229 cam. Since their website did not link this product with the cam, I wonder if others haven't used their stock valve springs and are getting some excessive blowby as a result.

More of a drag... I had to leave voicemail at Crower and hope they will call back so I can place the order.

 

DOes anyone know the lb/in rating for stock valce springs (4.6L engine). I am looking and not finding ANYTHING.

 

I put the 229 in a 4.6 with the stock springs and it screamed. No problems at all. No idea on lbs rating.

 

only thing i could find

13. Check condition of valve springs. Valve
springs must be replaced as a complete set.
l Valvespringfreelength=48.30mm(1.90
in).
l Valvespringfittedlength=40.40mm(1.59
in).
l Spring load - valve closed = 339 ± 10 N (76
± 2.25 lbf).
l Springload-valveopen=736±10N(166
± 2.25 lbf).

 

A Land Rover tech I have been working with says DO NOT USE the Crower lifters. He is building a 4.6, with Crower level 2 cam, for a friend right now and is using stock lifters and stock springs

 

The Crower info shows 382 lb/in closed. Their springs are bigger, so they require different retainers. At least, that's what they told me.

I'm actually pissed about the whole thing. I wouldn't have ordered that cam had a I known there was another 303 dollars plus shipping to follow. Also, Crower took FOUR WEEKS to get the cam to me.

 

I have always used Rhoads "anti-pump up" lifters with higher lift cams. Really helps with vacuum at idle. Dusty1 uses them, if i recall.

 

Abran did he use the existing ones or order new ones? Dusty1 told me the same thing and he is using the cam.

They also claim that their "x3" lifters transmit more oil. As noted above, the reason I'm looking for the downforce of the stock springs is that Crower recommends 382lb/in and the person I spoke to said stock springs would not return the valves fast enough.

 

I'm pretty sure he is using the old springs, but not sure.

How much are new stock springs? Maybe just do that.

 

Stock are about 3.50 each. The Crower ones are twice as much and come with seals, retainers, guides, and the fancy lifters for 303. 124 for the lifters alone (I can't recall how much the retainers are).

I'm not having to sell gold teeth to buy them but I wouldn't have spent almost 600 bucks for a new cam when I don't even know whether my old one had a problem.