Guson

Problem:
For my cylinder head overhaul I purchased new Ferrea 6000 series valves (F6139/F6124). To go with them I got what Ferrea call "std" 7 deg valve locks (K10017) that I thought would fit my stock retainers. I wish... While the new valve locks fit the hole in the retainer snugly they are slightly smaller in OD which makes the retainer sit higher on the valve stem. The retainer sits appr. 2 mm (.080") higher than stock. It stops when it's just flush with the valve stem tip which makes them impossible to use even if I could find a way to shim up valve pressure.

What I did so far:
I called Ferrea and got to talk to someone who loved to talk but that was about it. All I wanted was a Ferrea part number for a retainer that would fit. He assured me that "any" aftermarket performance retainer would do the trick but never gave me a Ferrea reference. I took my valves and locks, new and old, and my retainers to a speed shop and tried the Crane retainers they stocked that matched my spring diameter. While the Crane retainers cleared the tip sufficently the overall shape still left my springs way too long.

Question:
Has anyone used these valves (or perhaps the Ferrea 5000 series) in their 351C and what parts did you use to get them installed? I would also want to know if shimming of spring length was required with your setup (and what spring length you were aiming for).

Tomas

 

XYHO

Hey mate, I have had exactly the same issues here in the last week.

I took my 4V heads down to have them fully reconditioned with the addition of Ferra 5000 valves, Crower retainers and PSI springs. Seems the Ferra intake valves are longer overall by up to .080". What this has caused is the valve height has increased to 1.9100", rather than stock 1.8250" height. The Exhaust length was a little longer too, but worked out fine, they were shimmed .030" from memory, worked out with 117 lbs (I am running a HYD cam) pressure on the seat, but I had to run different collets (locks) on the intake and run thicker shims. We couldn't get hold of retainers that were .080" or so lower for the correct installed height, so we're going to have to either shim the rockers, or run a longer push rod or both... Joys of the Cleveland after market parts.

If I were you and I was able to return the Ferra (I couldn't), I'd be buying a set of Stainless Manley valves, which I have only just discovered are stock length. No issues to worry about... Should all bolt up like standard. Please make sure you use a good set of retainers and locks with those new valves. Stock Cleveland stuff belongs in the bin. It's crap and will cause you issues later on.

I'd also be keen to hear what others have had to do with respect to Ferra 5000/6000 on Clevelands - particularly correcting the geometry issues that these longer length valves cause.

Cheers and good luck.

__________________
XY GT Replica (Track Red), 351 4V, Forged Pistons, Rollers, Crower Solid Cam, MSD 6AL Ignition, MSD Distributor, Pacemaker 2" primary pipes, Twin Two and a Half inch exhaust, 31 Spline Top Loader, Daikin clutch, 31 Spline 3.5 Nodular 9", HO Brakes, Simmons B45s. No stereo, nothing but the sound of SWEET Cleveland music...ahhhh, the only woofer is the one that's in my yard. $$$

Guson

Hi there!

It's interesting to hear about your woes. Mine are not identical to yours. You mention a difference in overall length. Mine are almost dead on, within a few tenths of a mm, when I measure from the stem tip to the valve seat. I don't see any rocker geometry issues. The intakes were advertised as .030" over and that's what it looks like too. I can deal with that by shimming. My problem is limited to installed spring height. Returning the valves is not an option for me. I don't know what brand retainers I have but they were swapped in a few years ago as someone had installed Chevy style retainers which left me with too much installed spring length. The valve locks must of course be replaced under all circumstanses as the Ford locks are multigroove.

Tomas