My used head that i ordered had three valve springs that were in a different orientation from the others. At first I thought it was just put on backwards since most of the valve seals were on the valve stem but not seated on the head. Some were partially seated on the head, but had a bent metal outer part as if someone couldn't get them off. I assembled all the springs "right way up." I then looked at my other head that had not been taken apart yet and realized that it too had three "upside down" valve springs, but in different places.

Does the orientation even matter? Since I reversed some springs to how they were originally, would that cause a problem?

 

I don’t know if it matters but I would put them on all correctly as to not find out what happens when they are upside down.

 

Would it break anything if they were originally "upside down" and I flipped them over? Closer coils go on the bottom, and there isn't actually 5 that are upside down, right?

 

It doesn't matter. The valve stroke is always the same. Not like suspension springs that have different travel dimensions to contend with. Just be sure uncompressed spring heights measure to spec, and the springs are square/straight.