PERFORMANCE PRODUCT REVIEW | 2006 BEEHIVE™ VALVE SPRINGS FROM COMP ®

or years the standard thinking when it came to valve train performance was raise the spring pressure and cut the weight on Feverything else. Now, forward-thinking engine builders are realizing that by reducing the mass of the spring itself you can increase the rpm before and improve valve control throughout the rpm range while holding spring pressures to a more reasonable level. One of the best ways to do this is with the COMP Cams innovative new Beehive Valve Springs. Named because the shape resembles a bee- hive with a wide base and narrow top, this spring design is the ulti- mate at improving valve spring efficiency while also cutting every pos- sible gram of extra weight. The wide base provides spring stability without costing much in terms of performance because the lower coils travel very little when the valve is opened. The narrow top portion, which does the majority of the movement when the valve is opened and closed, has much less mass and exhibits less inertial resistance to movement. The small top also allows the use of a much smaller-and lighter-spring retainer. In addition to the shape, Beehive Springs also use an ovate, or oval, wire in their construction. An ovate wire is thinner vertically than a round wire. Compared to a standard spring with the same installed height, an ovate wire spring will allow greater valve lift before reaching coil bind. COMP’s Beehive Springs are available for many applications in a variety of spring pressures and sizes. They can even be easily retro-fit into older head designs.

MANUFACTURER’S CLAIMS when it comes to squeezing that matches the spring’s har- find more performance from just more performance from any monic frequency, and valve about any engine package. COMP’s Beehive engine. train parts start breaking. But COMP’s Chris Mays is a believer. Spring design offers In addition, the Beehive because a Beehive Spring’s He’s done extensive Spintron® advantages for almost Spring’s unique shape also plays diameter varies throughout the and dyno testing with the every factor an engine builder a key role in reducing harmon- coils, it forms a natural damp- springs and found that, “the must consider for his valve train. ics. Depending on several vari- ening mechanism for harmonic Beehive Springs have proven Lower spring pressures improve ables, including spring diame- vibrations. The result is a spring that in many applications they component life, while the ter, every valve spring has a that is much more resistant to produce less dynamic instability, reduced mass of the system natural harmonic frequency at damaging harmonics. higher rpm, longer life and con- allows better valve control and which it vibrates. Operate an Put it all together, and there sequently, more horsepower.” higher rpm levels-the Holy Grail engine too long at an rpm level is definitely the opportunity to You can’t argue with that.

AS SEEN IN: WHAT GREGG KILLINGSWORTH PFLUGERVILLE ENGINE AND MACHINE, AUSTIN, TX A couple of years ago when IMCA outlawed stud girdles we had a problem. We POWER AND PERFORMANCE MAGAZINE OTHERS turned to the Beehive Spring from COMP and it turned out to be the perfect solution for SAY our valve control problem. It solved all the weight issues. The Beehive is a true god- CHEVY HIGH PERFORMANCE MAGAZINE send. We retro-fitted my race , and it replaced the stud girdle. POPULAR HOT RODDING MAGAZINE JIM KUNTZ KUNTZ & COMPANY, ARKADELPHIA, AR CAR CRAFT MAGAZINE We dyno-ed the Beehive Springs and when compared to conventional springs we picked up 15-20 hp on a customer’s Small Block Ford engine. The Beehive Spring performed well up to 8200 rpm and maintains pressure.

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Installation of the Beehive Springs is a impurities from the spring wire than any The varying diameter of the Beehive shape straight forward process. Anyone with other process used anywhere else in enables the spring to better handle these engine building know-how will find these valve spring production. damaging harmonics, resulting in springs to be a little less difficult to install Other advantages include the ovate increased high rpm horsepower and the because the compression factor is less. wire shape that reduces dynamic stress- durability necessary for street applications. That’s part of the uniqueness of this es experienced by the spring during its Spring weight is important because it spring, because although the compres- lift cycle which is typically concentrated means less reciprocating mass in motion. sion factor is less, there is no trade-off in on the outer diameter of the wire. The The Beehive shape provides a double the performance side because the ovate wire also facilitates heat dissipation weight savings; not only does it reduce Beehive Spring is the ultimate in design much more readily than a conventional the weight of the spring itself, but it also and materials. round wire design, thus resulting in allows use of a smaller, lighter valve The material of the Beehive is a longer life than traditional springs. spring retainer. Reduction of spring mass proprietary alloy that’s made in a patent- The Beehive shape of the spring has the added advantage of requiring ed “Super Clean™” process that’s increases harmonic resistance, giving it less spring pressure to maintain total designed to significantly eliminate more much greater stability as the engine revs. valve control.

Real World Review

I have been in the business of building engines for over 40 years, building street performance and bracket racing engines. Very few things come along that really impress me. For me seeing is believing. That’s the case with the Beehive Springs from COMP Cams. When I first heard of these springs, I just didn’t see how they could work better than JOE SHERMAN conventional springs. The only way I was going to JOE SHERMAN RACING know was to see for myself. SANTA ANA, CA I don’t know who came up with the design, they WINNER OF 2002 looked funny and I was very skeptical until I installed a ENGINE MASTER set in one of my small block engines. I soon found out combination delivers as much as 40-50 more horse- CONTEST that they really work. In my engines the Beehive works power than I ever saw in conventional setups. Installing with 50 to 75 lbs less tension than conventional dual the spring is less trouble too, because it is easier to springs, and they deliver 10 hp or more. Not only that, compress single spring than a double or double with sometimes conventional valve springs allow valve float dampener spring. around 6700 rpm, but with the Beehive we can turn up to 7500 rpm before valve float. Would you recommend this product to others? I now regularly use Beehives along with hydraulic Yes, COMP put a lot of science into the Beehive roller designs in the popular 383 small block design, and like I said before, I’m not usually easily engines I build. The Beehive and hydraulic roller cam impressed, but this spring really does the job.

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