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Thoughts on Beehive Springs? #2991133
12/02/21 02:46 AM
12/02/21 02:46 AM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 707
California
BigDaddy440 Offline OP
super stock
BigDaddy440  Offline OP
super stock

Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 707
California

What are your thoughts and experiences with Beehive Springs?

GM has been using them in their LSX engines for decades with success, but some claim they're junk and they break "all the time" or wear out prematurely. Factory GM camshafts probably don't have super aggressive lobe profiles, but LS engines take a lot of abuse and the springs survive.

They're typically lighter than conventional springs, especially when considering the much smaller retainer than can be used. They also can usually allow for more lift in applications where retainer to valve seal contact is an issue. Lighter valve-train should require less seat pressure to control valve events and less spring pressure should help allow parts to last longer.

My concern with running a Beehive Spring is breakage and a potentially dropped valve which could totally wreck an entire engine. I'm specifically considering a set (non mopar engine) for a fairly small (.510 lift) hydraulic roller camshaft with an aggressive lobe profile. The aggressive lobe fuels my concern.

I noticed Steve Dulcich had some Beehives on a small block mopar recently. I was surprised because I haven't noticed a lot of guys running Beehives on Non-GM engines. Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.


1969 A12 Roadrunner
1970 Plymouth Cuda
1968 Dodge Dart
Re: Thoughts on Beehive Springs? [Re: BigDaddy440] #2991138
12/02/21 03:48 AM
12/02/21 03:48 AM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,202
Bend,OR USA
C
Cab_Burge Offline
I Win
Cab_Burge  Offline
I Win
C

Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,202
Bend,OR USA
Do you really want to be a Guinea pig and lead the way or would you rather go with a proven product like a set of Isky #8005 valve springs work
I don't want to be test bed unless the company providing me the parts is paying me to do testing for them.
I have had to try unproven race parts (R&D) in my motors when the parts I was using wouldn't live or do what I needed them to do up work


Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
Re: Thoughts on Beehive Springs? [Re: BigDaddy440] #2991153
12/02/21 07:49 AM
12/02/21 07:49 AM
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 139
Canada
M
Max Weg Offline
member
Max Weg  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 139
Canada
Beehives work great!! I have used them in Stock Eliminator for over 10 years with only 1 failure which was more my fault. I as well have used them on multiple street builds with good success.

Max Weg

Re: Thoughts on Beehive Springs? [Re: BigDaddy440] #2991156
12/02/21 08:11 AM
12/02/21 08:11 AM
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,454
Morristown Tn.
7
71birdJ68 Offline
master
71birdJ68  Offline
master
7

Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,454
Morristown Tn.
Depends on what you are gonna do with the car. Viper and late model Hemi's have beehive springs and I've seen the Viper powered truck and a cop Hemi street engine drop a valve cause they broke. On a race engine that gets checked, or the springs get replaced more often, I guess they can work.

Re: Thoughts on Beehive Springs? [Re: BigDaddy440] #2991168
12/02/21 09:18 AM
12/02/21 09:18 AM
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 314
Northeast Indiana
7
73DAD Offline
enthusiast
73DAD  Offline
enthusiast
7

Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 314
Northeast Indiana
I've been running beehives on my 528 Hemi for about 15k miles now. Street use and occasional track visit. They control some pretty heavy valvetrain just fine. I've rev'd it to 7k on accident before. (solid flat tappet).

I'm a believer. I don't intend to run traditional springs ever again if I can help it.

Re: Thoughts on Beehive Springs? [Re: 73DAD] #2991184
12/02/21 10:01 AM
12/02/21 10:01 AM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,861
Pattison Texas
CSK Offline
master
CSK  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,861
Pattison Texas
Mild hydro roller, over 11k miles & so far so good.


1968 Charger COLD A/C Hilborn EFI
512ci 9.7 compression, Stealth heads, 4.10 gear A518 ODtrans 4100lb,10.93 full street car trim
2020 T/A 392 Stock 11.79 @ 114.5

Re: Thoughts on Beehive Springs? [Re: CSK] #2991194
12/02/21 10:52 AM
12/02/21 10:52 AM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,635
Oakland, MI
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dizuster Offline
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dizuster  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,635
Oakland, MI
If the OEM is willing to use them, it's not a design you should be worried about.

Buy from a good spring manufacture, and don't look back.

Re: Thoughts on Beehive Springs? [Re: BigDaddy440] #2991197
12/02/21 11:00 AM
12/02/21 11:00 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 31,042
Oregon
A
AndyF Offline
I Win
AndyF  Offline
I Win
A

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 31,042
Oregon
I've been running beehive springs for at least 20 years. The last few engines I used conical springs which are even better than beehives. The conical springs are a dual spring design.
https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/dyno-tested-dual-conical-valve-springs/

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Last edited by AndyF; 12/02/21 11:00 AM.
Re: Thoughts on Beehive Springs? [Re: BigDaddy440] #2991279
12/02/21 02:37 PM
12/02/21 02:37 PM
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 288
NW Illinois
M
MoonshineMattK Offline
enthusiast
MoonshineMattK  Offline
enthusiast
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Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 288
NW Illinois
Beehive springs are great. My question is how much money will the upgrade cost and could the money be better spent elsewhere.







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