Are keepers "just" keepers?

[2eighTZ4me]

Meaning - can I use stock valve keepers with aftermarket retainers and springs - or are the keepers made specifically to/for the retainers?

[ezzzzzzz]

Are you talking about lash pads or the butterfly springs used to keep the rockers on the adjusters? Aftermarket retainers for our L28 will accept a Nissan lash pad (keeper). That's the only way to adjust for proper wipe against the camshaft lobe.

[2eighTZ4me]

Not what I was looking for.... Keepers are the little half-moon pieces of metal that hold the valve to the retainer. They fit inside the retainer (flat metal piece that sits on top of the valve spring) and wrap around the valve. You know - the little bastages that are a pain in the arse to get out, and real easy to lose? They hold the valve up in the head via spring pressure on the bottom of the retainer and "clamp" the valve in place.

[naviathan]

Meaning - can I use stock valve keepers with aftermarket retainers and springs - or are the keepers made specifically to/for the retainers?

Yes you can. The aftermarket retainers (aka valve spring "hats") have the same keepers as the the stock Nissan ones.

[BRAAP]

For the L-series, most of the time, especially the Schneider, Crane, etc spring/retainer packages, yes you can use stock keepers with after-market retainers. If the retainers require a different keeper for whatever reason, the spring/retainer package will have a recommended keeper and part number in the literature.

[TimZ]

For the L-series, most of the time, especially the Schneider, Crane, etc spring/retainer packages, yes you can use stock keepers with after-market retainers. If the retainers require a different keeper for whatever reason, the spring/retainer package will have a recommended keeper and part number in the literature.

 

Digging up an old post, but I'm also curious as to whether I could potentially use an aftermarket keeper (Crower makes some, for instance) if I get the correct wedge angle, or would this do weird stuff like alter the installed height or something?

 

Something like this, maybe? Also, is 7 degrees the correct angle?

[Xnke]

There are also some ford keepers that will work, that change the location of the keeper and retainer by moving where the keeper sets in the retainer. They are mentioned in How To Modify, but I don't see a reason to use them, really.

[BRAAP]

I recall Sir Dietz using a domestic 5/16" keeper for its locking groove being further down the keeper itself which raises the installed spring height, (retainer height), by that same amount allowing an alternative inexpensive taller, stiffer valve spring to be used. He was selling a cam kit , (still may be selling them for all I know), for the L-4 with those springs and keepers. I installed one in a friends Hybrid Datsun/Nissan L22 that I built several years ago. I was a little skeptical about their fitment at the time whne assembling the head, but it worked out just fine.

 

 

[TimZ]

I recall Sir Dietz using a domestic 5/16" keeper for its locking groove being further down the keeper itself which raises the installed spring height, (retainer height), by that same amount allowing an alternative inexpensive taller, stiffer valve spring to be used. He was selling a cam kit , (still may be selling them for all I know), for the L-4 with those springs and keepers. I installed one in a friends Hybrid Datsun/Nissan L22 that I built several years ago. I was a little skeptical about their fitment at the time whne assembling the head, but it worked out just fine.

 

 

 

Thanks Paul - any idea what the wedge angle is?