Are there any BeeHive valvespring retainers that wil work with our 455 Buick TA valves. Also, opinions on BeeHives welcomed.:laugh: :beers2: BILL SR
What don't I understand? Why wouldn't beehive retainers work; as long as you can get appropriate valve keepers? The last two engines I've built (Pontac 455 and Chevy 454) have gotten beehive springs; neither has much running time--so I'm not in a position to say how well they've worked out.
Beehive retainers are much smaller outter diameter than standard.I believe you need to use chevy valves and keepers in our heads.
I'm told that the retainer keeper angle on our 455 Buick valves are different then any BeeHive retainers that are currently available. I'd love to use them on my Stage 2 engine that we're building, but I haven't found any retainers that will work with my TA valves. If anybody has found a retainer for BeeHives that works with our Buick valves, please let me know. PS: I'm not lookin' to get flamed, just looking for information. Thanks BILL SR
Of course. The retainer never touches the valve, the valve makes NO difference to the retainer. The valve stem diameter and keeper groove shape will need to be matched by the keeper, however. The KEEPERS touch the valve; as long as the keepers fit the valve properly and are the same "degree" as the retainers...I don't understand why there'd be any problem. Keepers are sold as "7 degree" and "10 degree"; with the 10 degree keepers being stronger. Match the keeper groove in the valve to the ID and "rib" shape of the keeper; and match the OD taper of the keeper to the retainer. From there, you have a choice of standard height, +.050 and -.050 keepers. I've been using the +.050 to get enough installed height on the springs. Doesn't matter what the keeper angle is...as long as it matches the retainer. Since you aren't going to use the Buick retainer or keepers, the Buick-specified angle doesn't matter. If the keeper GROOVE in the valve stem isn't standard, you'll have fun matching up keepers, the "rib" on the ID of the keeper needs to match the groove in the valve. Springs are dependent on the camshaft, of course--but how about this: Comp Cams recommends (as standard or as an upgrade) Beehive 26120 for the 400/430/455 Buick when the Extreme Energy or Thumpr cams are selected. http://compcams.com/catalog/COMP2010/pdf/COMP_Catalog_2010_120-125.pdf http://compcams.com/catalog/COMP2010/pdf/COMP_Catalog_2010_337.pdf The 26120 is the SAME beehive spring I put into my 454; Comp markets that beehive primarily as a BBC valve spring. I'm thinking perhaps BBB and BBC use the same valve springs. I bought the same springs in a Lunati box as p/n 74820LUN. I used a Lunati retainer/keeper/spring seat/valve stem seal kit; although the keepers and seals may be different for a BBB than for a BBC. Both Comp Cams and Lunati don't list a keeper for the BBB; which makes me wonder about the shape of the keeper groove in the valve. So: That's still the big question. It's not the retainers that are the problem, it MIGHT be a problem getting proper keepers. From here, I have to let more knowledgeable people take over.
Ditto, Bobb and Scott Brown set me up with beehive springs/retainers/locks on my Eddie heads when I switched to a mechanical cam. Setting spring heights with a standard mic is a pain. See if someone sells a spring mic for beehive retainers.
Mike @ Automotive Machine & Performance (AM&P) can help...they recently set up my cast Stage 1 heads with behives. :TU:
The grooves (ribs) on the BBB valve are unique only to Buicks. So we have to have a Buick-specific keeper.
Stock BBC springs are 1.5" OD. BBB are 1.32" OD. Don't have installed heights handy. Very common to open up the BBB valve pocket to 1.5" OD for dual springs.
The heads need the T/A 11/32 valve stem size to use behive retainers. The Buick factory 3/8 valve stem has a unique lock that only works with Buick specific retainers. The Buick lock angle is more than 10 degrees so you can't use 10 degree retainers made for most engines. The Edelbrock heads also have 11/32 stem valves. For this reason 90 percent of the Buick engines I do, I put 11/32 guides in them so I can use 11/32 valves.
we made them with that stupid 11 degree. We had waaay to much work on the 3/8 valves to changed them then. Maybe some one has them available today for the 3/8 valve. Fernando
