johninar

I have a stock LS6 and do 15-20 HPDE days a year. I do not have any plans in the near future of performance upgrades, but will eventually give in and put a cam in it. Since I fall into the period of time that there appears to have been a lot of spring failures, I want to replace them before something happens.

Do I just put OEM springs in it or go with 1218s or some such?
I've read a lot of threads and I just don't know if there is any benfit for me to use an aftermarket spring.

So those of you who track your cars a lot, opinions?

thanks,

John

travisnd

When prepping my 2001 with 119k miles (122k + now) I swapped in a set of fresh OEM 2002-2004 springs aka "yellows". They're downright cheap from Scoggins-Dicky and properly designed for the stock cam. No need for more spring pressure with a stock setup.



In my old Z06 with a LGM G5-X2 cam I had comp 921s FWIW... good spring for that cam.

RX-Ben

New yellows are fine, 1218s (which have a modest seat pressure) are good as well.
1218s were fine for me this year on heavy LS1 valves and regularly spinning up to 7k.

CHJ In Virginia

After 48K miles total and approximately 20K track miles, I swapped out my springs last year. I also went with the stock yellows. I agree with Travis - they are designed for the engine and there is no sense in going with more pressure or a different design.

RX-Ben

...unless you are using the engine in a manner that was not intended

AU N EGL

Would we do that ? ? ? ?

johninar

Never..

Thanks for the replies.
Now, who has the best price for the Crane tool (on comparable nock-off)?

Vettechris996

I went with stock yellows last spring as well, my 02 had 22k on it at the time.

FYI, the Comp Cams tool fits Gen III/IV LS engines not just gen III. Not a bad investment and it works great.

PA Z06

[QUOTE=CHJ In Virginia;1579728089]After 48K miles total and approximately 20K track miles, I swapped out my springs last year. I also went with the stock yellows.

I did the same, its just cheap insurance

UstaB-GS549

I used Crane tool to install stock yellow springs in my LS6 a few years ago. I bought it from Vinci Hi-performance in Orlando,FL. Looks like they have their own version for $99. I also bought a spark plug hole air hose from them. Set of springs was around $60 from Gen Culley.

davidfarmer

back before the fancy stuff was allowed, we ran the Yellow springs at 7500rpm in World Challenge engines with a largish GM racing cam. Never had a problem with them, and see no reason to change .

ZedO6

I just did the valve spring swap and BTW, the new GMPP springs are blue, my old springs were yellow. Car is a 02 C5Z that had 15K. I plan to track the car and leave the LS6 cam in it. I'd rather change these out once a season than screw around with excessive seat pressure and other issues consistent with the wrong springs.

I got all the parts, springs, seals and the Proform tool from Pace for less than $180 delivered. No brainer as far as I can see...did the whole swap in a little over 2 hours.

travisnd

Odd... it used to be that the 2001 Z06 springs were blue and then the '02+ were yellow. The yellows supposedly have a little more pressure to deal with the higher lift on the '02-'04 cam.

Bad Karma

Might be semantics, but are those blue? They look more green in the picture. Maybe just oil stained.

I am planning on swapping mine out this winter because I too fall into the danger years. I was going to go with GMPP.

travisnd

Yes... they're blue. They had 119,xxx miles on them.

ZedO6

How much of that 117, xxx was on the track? Maybe you had a "good set"

RX-Ben

Hard to argue with this - the only caveat I would add (and why I swapped when using 317 heads) is that if you are using the heavy LS1/LS2 valves then this cannot be directly applied (~20% heavier valves).

Springs like the 1218s and 918s are ovate wire, beehive springs which have some benefits:

http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/advanc...-lift-etc.html

Seat pressure:
http://www.cranecams.com/faqview.php?s_id=33

travisnd

None... car was a pretty street car until I bought it in 1.5 years ago to make into a dedicated race car. Sapping the springs out was part of my prep in addition to a fresh LS4 high volume oil pump, a LS2 timing chain and lower mileage rockers.

I guess my 2001 Z06 falls into the heavy valve category? It was only the 2002-2004 that got the lighter sodium filled intake valves I think???

RX-Ben

Right.
I bought a set of '01s and promptly sold them upon discovering this myself.
Same w/LS2s.
I want to get my $$ worth out of my Katech rod bolts.

travisnd

Did you buy heads off a 2002-2004? Did you get the matching cam? Reason I ask is because the 2001 vs. the '02-'04 cams have a different base circle (I believe the '02-'04 is smaller) Since GM uses the same 7.38" pushrods and rocker arms they correct the geometry/preload through having longer valve stems in the '02-'04 heads.