Here, courtesy of Erson Cams, are several sound rules to remember. The story is developed for those interested in high-performance engine technology and explains the severity of the environment in which the valve spring operates and some of its relationships with a properly functioning valve train.

Erson suggests that the primary factors considered when selecting valve springs in a racing engine are, first, the amount of valve lift and, second, engine speeds. As engine speed increases so does inertia, which refers to the valve train’s resistance to changes in speed and direction.

To read the full story as printed in Drag Racer magazine click here.