Does it matter which way they go and what are your opinions? should they be parallel to the rocker or 90* to the rocker?

55 Vicky & customline

58 Rack Dump, 55 F350 yard truck, 57 F100

59 & 61 P 400's, 58 F100 custom cab, 69 F100, 79 F150, 82 F600 ramp truck, 90 mustang conv 7 up, 94 Mustang, Should I continue?

In a perfect world,the valves rota some and so do sping ect,so no don't matter,kind of like putting in rings,good the be sure there stagered gap wose,but they do move when new running

"The Bat" out of hell

50's & 60's hotrodder

retired speed shop owner,built and design hotrods, racecars

airbrush t-shirts, engine balancing

Miami fl.

Hmmm.... 'The Bat' is correct... IF you are using the original FoMoCo 'usual production' y-block valve spring retainers. The FoMoCo two piece valve spring retainers were designed to cause the valves to rotate during normal engine operation to prolong valve life.

However, IF you have original '57 'E' or 'F' code single piece valve spring retainers, OR aftermarket single piece valve spring retainers from performance camshaft kit or component suppliers, the valves do not rotate and therefore the valve keepers retain their 'as installed' orientation.

Perhaps Ted, John Mummert, or McTim will have a comment as to whether they pay attention to valve keeper orientation on single piece valve spring retainers when they assemble cylinder heads having them...

NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York

Which brings up the subject of original 2 piece valve keeper/retainers vs aftermarket ones that are usually one piece. Why one piece? Are 2 piece units unreliable with higher spring pressures or in high performance applications??

Paul

I like your question, too, Paul. Is it a matter of fewer valve train components resulting in less weight / inertia in the valve train? Is it simply a matter of assuring valve train reliability at high rpms?

NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York

Makes no difference in how the keepers are clocked. And with single piece valve spring retainers, the valves do still rotate. That’s simply a result of the angle of the coil in the springs promoting the rotation.

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Here’s a video that helps to demonstrate how much rotation can occur in the springs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Vz4mjPKXJ0

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One piece retainers are favored in a high performance application due to being able to handle increased valve spring pressures without a retainer failure while at the same time being lighter. Titanium is the material of choice for single piece retainers in a high performance application when the budget permits it.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

What about during the first few minutes of break in before the valves start rotating and the keepers are seating, would there be a preferred clocking of them? I am using the one piece.

55 Vicky & customline

58 Rack Dump, 55 F350 yard truck, 57 F100

59 & 61 P 400's, 58 F100 custom cab, 69 F100, 79 F150, 82 F600 ramp truck, 90 mustang conv 7 up, 94 Mustang, Should I continue?

INTERESTING. Thanks, Ted!

NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York

Ted, that video is something. With that much rotation, combined with the pressure and the fact that the rotation is against the bottom turn of the spring you wonder why they don't drill themselves into the head in no time.

Mark

1956 Mercury M100
1955 Ford Fairlane Club Sedan
Delta, British Columbia

Something doesn't appear right with that video, that spring is turning 2 revolutions for every rocker lift, I watched other videos, the one of the valve spring at 7000rpm and that spring wasnt turning but 1/16 per rocker lift, I also watched a few other videos but they were overhead cam and could not really see the turning action well. I know the valves and springs turn and such, but that appears excessive and it does not stop when relaxed, I can see it revolving a quarter turn or so after each compression from the rocker but it should slow down or stop between compressions shouldnt it?

55 Vicky & customline

58 Rack Dump, 55 F350 yard truck, 57 F100

59 & 61 P 400's, 58 F100 custom cab, 69 F100, 79 F150, 82 F600 ramp truck, 90 mustang conv 7 up, 94 Mustang, Should I continue?