454 peanut head cam change fun.

txaggie · May 18, 2024

Howdy all!

After much deliberation, I think I’ve chosen to go with a Howard’s roller cam set for my 85 454.

Howard’s recommends some springs so I’ll get those and then get the pushrods that fit. I would like to use factory rockers if possible. Thoughts?

One note on summit is that someone mentioned having to machine something with the springs and definitely don’t want to deal with that.

Ricko1966 · May 18, 2024

The valve seals in his case were too large diameter to fit inside the valve springs,so he had to cut the guides O D. to put in a smaller diameter valve seal. IDK if that will be the case on yours or not.

txaggie · May 18, 2024

Ricko1966 said:
The valve seals in his case were too large diameter to fit inside the valve springs,so he had to cut the guides O D. to put in a smaller diameter valve seal. IDK if that will be the case on yours or not.

Looks like he had an older style 70’s head

txaggie · May 18, 2024

Also it looks like I have oval port heads and not peanut port due to the casting number. 14081045

bucket · May 18, 2024

I'll copy/paste from my response in our PM. Be right back...

bucket · May 18, 2024

My quick research shows them to be peanut port heads. Which does make sense since as far as I know, all the truck engines after '78 were peanut port. Until the '96 vortec heads of course.

You can reuse the factory rockers just fine, but you will definitely need guide plates to match the larger 3/8" pushrods. And like I said before, you'll need to make sure that the recommended springs will fit without machining. Otherwise you'll need to get some head work done, or figure out a compatible spring that will fit.

One other tidbit, I forgot to mention valve rotators. Your heads will probably have rotators on the exhaust valves, or possibly on the exhaust and intake valves too. It is recommended, but not required, to remove them for better valvetrain stability. Comp Cams offers "rotator eliminators" that will replace them directly without having to use a much taller spring. They are a different size for intake and exhaust valves, due to a minor difference in valve guide diameter.

txaggie · May 18, 2024

bucket said:
My quick research shows them to be peanut port heads. Which does make sense since as far as I know, all the truck engines after '78 were peanut port. Until the '96 vortec heads of course.

You can reuse the factory rockers just fine, but you will definitely need guide plates to match the larger 3/8" pushrods. And like I said before, you'll need to make sure that the recommended springs will fit without machining. Otherwise you'll need to get some head work done, or figure out a compatible spring that will fit.

One other tidbit, I forgot to mention valve rotators. Your heads will probably have rotators on the exhaust valves, or possibly on the exhaust and intake valves too. It is recommended, but not required, to remove them for better valvetrain stability. Comp Cams offers "rotator eliminators" that will replace them directly without having to use a much taller spring. They are a different size for intake and exhaust valves, due to a minor difference in valve guide diameter.

Thank you. Here is a pic of the heads. Can you tell me if all these springs have rotators (the mini cage)?

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bucket · May 18, 2024

txaggie said:
Thank you. Here is a pic of the heads. Can you tell me if all these springs have rotators (the mini cage)?

You must be registered for see images attach

The cage things are just oil deflectors, they won't be used with the new springs. The rotators sit below the springs and it's kind of hard to see in the picture, but I do think there are rotators on the exhaust and intake valves.

txaggie · May 19, 2024

bucket said:
The cage things are just oil deflectors, they won't be used with the new springs. The rotators sit below the springs and it's kind of hard to see in the picture, but I do think there are rotators on the exhaust and intake valves.

Thanks Bucket! You rock

txaggie · Monday at 2:45 PM

bucket said:
The cage things are just oil deflectors, they won't be used with the new springs. The rotators sit below the springs and it's kind of hard to see in the picture, but I do think there are rotators on the exhaust and intake valves.

Bucket, what are your thoughts on this? It looks like the valve seal is too large to fit into this middle Howard spring?

bucket · Monday at 8:43 PM

That's what I wanted you to be aware of before. You can either run different springs, or have the guides cut down for smaller seals. You already have the springs, so I'd recommend dropping the heads off to have the guides cut and a valve job if needed. They can also install the new springs to the correct installed hight/seat pressure, according to what Howard's recommends.

txaggie · Monday at 9:46 PM

bucket said:
That's what I wanted you to be aware of before. You can either run different springs, or have the guides cut down for smaller seals. You already have the springs, so I'd recommend dropping the heads off to have the guides cut and a valve job if needed. They can also install the new springs to the correct installed hight/seat pressure, according to what Howard's recommends.

I’ll message Howard’s tomorrow and see what tool they recommend and what seal to match. Also, I’ll call some local machine shops.

454 peanut head cam change fun.

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