Hi Guys,

just swapped in a new hydraulic roller (Comp Cams 230/236 at .050", 112 deg LC, .547" lift intake /exhaust) into my 454.
Dyno results were about as predicted: 482hp at 5500, 500 ft lb at 4600 (but over 490 ft lb from at least as low as 3500 (didn't get figures from lower revs). I was expecting a little more hp, but valve float occurred at 5500. I have the Comp Cams #26120 beehive springs with titanium retainers, which I thought would prevent any valve float until well over 6000. These are rated at 155lb closed and 358lb open at this valve lift. These springs have been run for a while with a less radical cam, so have probably lost a bit of pressure.
Obviously, I need either stiffer springs or some weight loss from the valvetrain. I thought of putting in the Comp Cams spring locators which have a lip on the inside of the spring base - they are .060" thick. This still leaves a good .060" of clearance before coil bind. I also thought of swapping the stock 3/8" pushrods for the Comp Cams Hi Tech thin-wall chrome-moly pushrods to save a little weight in the valvetrain. They are Comp Cams lightest pushrods. Do these two ideas sound reasonable, or is the pushrod thing a waste of money. Titanium items are frighteningly expensive!
I would like to be able to turn another 300-400 revs, which I think it would do. The hp was still going up steadily by 3-4hp per 100 revs until valve float, with no sign of the curve flattening out at 5500rpm. I think the engine has got an honest 490+hp in it - just bragging rights, of course!!
What do the experts think??
Thanks, Chris