Javier97Z28

I don't think I'm doing this wrong.. pretty sure Comp is still just selling more garbage...

The retainer doesn't fit into the bore.. it just sits on top of the bore.

I really just want to get the car done but I don't think I want to skip the height check.

This is the proper beehive #4930 micrometer from Comp Cams:

mdacton

its not the right one.

The person who thought me how to do it does not use a spring mic. I use a telescoping gauge and some digital calipers. Its alot quicker

Javier97Z28

?

It's the wrong one? Or its defective?

This is what Comp sells for their beehive springs. I think I can bore this out a bit with a dremel sanding bit or stone?? But then I'd be trashing a $85 tool if I screw up... Here's how "off" it is:

16.21mm retainer
16.03mm tool bore

I have digital calipers and just searched google for a telescoping gauge and not sure really how to do that..

mdacton

you put the telescoping gauge under the retainer and in the spring pocket. then tighten it and pull it out....check it with the calipers and figure everything out. It just alot faster when you check every one.

I'm sure you are probly just checking one.....just dremel it out if you think it will work. just be sure its hitting where it should

Javier97Z28

I'm checking them all.

Speeddemon's spring heights were all over the map on his heads.

mdacton

Well I would find the gauge, that thing you have is a PITA...it will work, but take forever.

Are the heads off? just make sure the same valve stays in the same hole in case the valve job is sunk or somthing odd and you need to shim a few

Javier97Z28

Nah, heads are on.

This was supposed to be a quick spring height check and replacement to 1518's.

The Engineer

Hold everything here, this isn't a big deal. I had to machine mine out some for the retainer shank to fit. Used a step-bit.

My new PAC-1518s are all on now.

WD

speed_demon24

I don't see the big problem with those tools. I checked all 16 valves with mine. It was a bit time consuming but no big deal. And I don't see a telescoping gauge being as accurate since it will only be pushing up on the retainer on one side, and that assuming you can get it out of there without moving it at all.

The Engineer

I use my dial-calipers to "re-measure" (double-check) the spring micrometer each time to be more accurate. Most of the installed heights on my AFRs are around 1.785"

WD

96flame

Comps listing of this part is kinda crap. That is the spring mic for the LS sized valves 8mm not the bigger diameter valves we have. Should have gotten the regular spring mic not the "beehive" one. I had the same problem.

Javier97Z28

Well, that explains it dude. Thanks man, I'll just bore this one out like Engineer described!

Vicious95Z28

I used a regular spring mic. The 795 retainer drops down onto the 1st ledge instead of sitting on the top like a larger retainer would. I simply measured the distance from where the retainer was supposed to lay to where it was laying and corrected the math.

gex598

You can do what Vicious95 says or if I remeber right you can flip it upside down and the smaller retainer will not recess into the tool.

Javier97Z28

lol this beehive micrometer is a joke...

I bored it out to fit the retainer.. it sits on the machined step.. not the upper lip. One would assume comp corrected the readings for the SMALLER retainer of the beehives.

Nope.

Getting 1.94 readings from the micrometer

The inner lip is about .14x (can't seem to get an exact/consistent reading w/ my calipers, gonna try the washer method tomorrow).

So that figures to about the 1.80 install height I believe Lloyd puts them at.

So I paid extra for a beehive micrometer that doesn't work any better than a standard micrometer. Nicely done comp cams.