Okay, so here's the deal. I've had several track outings (5) with 98-99mph trap speeds. You guys have given me great advice on the things it could be. I've done the cheap and easy stuff so far, but no luck.

One of the sugestions was the valvetrain. Well when I pulled the valve cover, I saw most my rockers in the same position! I also saw gigantic springs too. My cam is an Isky Mega Cam (hyd.) with .485/.485 230/230 at .050 (nothing big). My dad talked to the guy who built my engine, and he said my heads (fully assembled) were going to go on a huge solid cammed 12.5:1 302. So he just slapped them on my engine!?! I roughly measured the installed height at it's like 1-7/8", the OD is almost 1.5"! Are these the right springs, and has my cam been wiped out? :confused:

Toad,
There is absolutely no way that anyone can tell you if the springs are correct without taking one off the head and measuring its installed height, then putting the spring on a tester to see what the closed and open pressures are. That is the only way PERIOD. There are HUGE springs that have very little pressure, and tiny springs that have enought pressure for a roller cam, so appearance means nothing. If your cam was wiped, there should be some evidence of it in the oil filter. Or, set up a dial indicator on the end of a pushrod and check it. Also, if the cam was "wiped" you would probably notice some backfireing and other carrying on of the engine.
Hope this helps,

Thanks Bill for the 411. Are there any part #'s on a spring that I can look for, or do I have to check it w/ a spring tester? Also with my cam specs, what is the proper sring I should be looking for? :confused:

Hey Toad, I went to Isky's web page and tried to find your cam. This is pretty close.

I tried to post the link but it only gave you the search page. Here it is pasted. Note the RPM range. Spring part number is near the bottom.

TIMING CHART
PART NUMBER: 201300 GRIND NUMBER: 300 HL HYDRAULIC
ENGINE INFO: CHEVY SMALL BLOCK V8 265-283-302-305-307-327-350-400 CU.INCHES APPLICATION:
SPECIAL REMARKS: HYDRAULIC PRODUCT USE: STREET/STRIP

RPM RANGE: 2800-7000
Valve lift is calculated with zero lash and rocker ratio of 1.5
INTAKE TIMING DURATION: 300 deg.
OPEN: 42 BEFORE TDC
CLOSE: 78 AFTER BDC
CAM LIFT: .323"
VALVE LIFT: .485"
VALVE LASH: . HOT
. COLD
EXHAUST TIMING DURATION: 300 deg.
OPEN: 78 BEFORE BDC
CLOSE: 42 AFTER TDC
CAM LIFT: .323"
VALVE LIFT: .485"
VALVE LASH: . HOT
. COLD


LOBE CENTER: 108 deg. OVERLAP: 84 deg. CAM ADVANCE: 0 deg.
THE ABOVE TIMING IS CHECKED AT .007 (OPEN) LIFTER RISE
.007 (CLOSE)

The following timing is taken at .050" lifter rise and gives a more accurate determination of camshaft position.
INTAKE DURATION: 234 deg.
OPEN: 9 BEFORE TDC
CLOSE: 45 AFTER BDC
EXHAUST DURATION: 234 deg.
OPEN: 45 BEFORE BDC
CLOSE: 9 AFTER TDC


RECOMMENDED ISKY CAM KIT PARTS AND SETUP INFORMATION
LIFTERS: 202-HY LIFTER TYPE: HYDRAULIC
SPRING: 6005 TYPE: DUAL W/DAMPER DIA.: 1.430" RATE: 275 lbs per inch
INSTALLED HEIGHT: 1.750" SEAT PRESSURE: 135 lbs OPEN PRESSURE: 285 lbs
COIL BIND: 1.120"
SPRING SHIMS: # 4
STEEL RETAINERS: 507-ST
TITANIUM RETAINERS: 60-TI
PUSHRODS: 203-HG TYPE: NON-ADJ HEAT TREATED LENGTH: 7.781" DIA.: 5/16"
ROCKER ARMS: 204 TYPE: ROLLER RATIO: 1.5
VALVE LOCKS: VL-32
VALVE LOCKS: VL-32
REV KIT:


http://www.iskycams.com/category_template.php?sub_category_id=127

Thanks ckaram, that helps a lot. graemlins/thumbsup.gif I hope this solves my MPH problem. I'm gonna have to get to the bottom of this! Does anyone know where I can possibly rent the tools for the job (dial indicator, spring tester, valve spring compressor etc.)?