This may be a stupid question but what are the pros/cons or these 2? do they need to be used together or can they be used separately? Lastly are the DIY-able or do you need someone to do it?

 

I DIY'ed....lol.

It is doable for an apt patient well tooled mechanic...

Springs alone help with power and float at max RPM's...springs are a must with most cams.

I would have to say Helix 2 and sportsman springs from F1...wow is all I can say. Truck seems to run effortlessly... (sp?)

Idles so smooth I can here my stage 2 pump fluxuate...LOL.

 

Yep must run springs with cam. I think im going to go with a F1 helix 2 cam, Sportsman valve springs, Dr. Performances new roller rockers and titanium alloy push rods while im at it.

 

I have no idea why you/anyone would want roller rockers...the OEM units are sharp. It is not like a cheap gasser rocker...it has a ball and cup contact point...that does not appear to cause much or any friction.

Lighter pushrods...that are as strong as the OEM ones....may have an idea there.

 

there are cams being made that don't require springs. Hogue makes one. It just depends on the cut of the cam.

A cam would be pretty difficult to do for the DIYer without a lot of tools. The springs wouldn't be too hard. The only special tool would be a spring compressor and some valve shims for adjustment when done.

I'd say it's not something you should do though if you aren't real familiar with what you're doing

 

It is possible to do yourself but like cquestad says you better know your stuff and have a good amount of tools.

Don's Cam and springs are the way to go.

 

what would i gain from just spring and not a cam?

 

The main purpose of the springs are to decrease the chance of floating valves on high boost, high rpm runs. I don't think you would gain anymore actual power.

 

Shims? Our Cummins don't need "no stinking shims"...

The springs are easy...you just neeed the Cummins spring compressor tool...
I actually think you loose power when your valves start to float...so actually you do pick up power if you were running it that hard before...

Every thing I have done on this truck was 10 times easier the second time...don't let the fear of the unknown scare you. Roll the sleeves up...go slow and ask lots of questions. If you have ever taken apart any engine...motorcycle or whatever...give it a whirl!

There are never any bad excuses to buy more tools!

 

Great advice! I have done all my own work, and justified it by rather spending the money on tools that a shop to do the work. This Cummins engine is EASY to work on!

 

What I was trying to say was feeler gauge. I couldn't think of what it was called at the time. That's not your common tool box item if you're not one to be working on the innerds of a motor a lot.

 

Wrong. You'll gain power just with springs.

Reasons being that you'll be able to make complete correct combustion events and wont have valves being lazy or staying open too long.
Before I did springs my intake was FULL of carbon from exhaust coming back into the plenum.