Magnum head valve keepers are like unicorns

[reek]

I've been trying to track down Valve keepers for my magnum heads. so far I've ordered 2 sets, one from Comp Cams and another from edelbrock both cross ref for fit. both do not fit. there's no OEM replacement as far as I can tell. Now one final try with Hughes engines. their 1278 keepers are listed as 8mm OEM, hope they fit the OEM beehive springs. I thought staying OEM would be easy but my rebuild has been stopped by this ONE little detail. who would have thought.

if anyone has an idea on what, where I can source oem valve keepers let me know. please. just incase Hughes is a 3rd strike.

 

[crazzywolfie]

what about hitting up a auto recycler? should be tons of magnum engine out there still.

 

[Fast69Mopar]

I've been trying to track down Valve keepers for my magnum heads. so far I've ordered 2 sets, one from Comp Cams and another from edelbrock both cross ref for fit. both do not fit. there's no OEM replacement as far as I can tell. Now one final try with Hughes engines. their 1278 keepers are listed as 8mm OEM, hope they fit the OEM beehive springs. I thought staying OEM would be easy but my rebuild has been stopped by this ONE little detail. who would have thought.

if anyone has an idea on what, where I can source oem valve keepers let me know. please. just incase Hughes is a 3rd strike.

The Mopar Performance number you would use for the Magnum head is
P4452032 or 312-4452032.

I have used the #1278's from Hughes before. If you strike out I can sell you a complete set and ship them to you from Texas.

 

[pacofortacos]

Part of the problem is the magnum valves are not 8 mm, they are 5/16".
8mm can work with the correct retainer though.
The other thing you have to check is where the bead is located on the keeper - oem magnum has the bead at the top of the keeper.

 

[reek]

The Mopar Performance number you would use for the Magnum head is
P4452032 or 312-4452032.

I have used the #1278's from Hughes before. If you strike out I can sell you a complete set and ship them to you from Texas.

thanks. wish I posted earlier, would've hit you up. I found the mopar P4452032 before but for $18 apiece or $290 a set of 16, I just couldn't swing it. although, now with all the trial and err, I'm about half way there. As long as the Hughes parts work, I'm good!

 

[reek]

Part of the problem is the magnum valves are not 8 mm, they are 5/16".
8mm can work with the correct retainer though.
The other thing you have to check is where the bead is located on the keeper - oem magnum has the bead at the top of the keeper.

yeah, the factory service manual specs it at 5/16 or I think it comes out to 7.9.. mm. for some reason, all the parts list as 8mm.

 

[reek]

what about hitting up a auto recycler? should be tons of magnum engine out there still.

checked ebay and local pick and pull. all the ram 1500's had their motors pulled already. Dakotas aren't listed with motor sizes so if the Hughes part doesn't pan out, the in-person easter egg hunt may be an option. I guess that would include vans too.

 

[pacofortacos]

They also measure at 5/16".
The oem springs are not quite beehive either.

Though there is a nice drop in beehive spring that fits and with the correct retainer and keeper keeps the stock installed spring height.

 

[pacofortacos]

Dakota and durango from 1999 down are all magnum, but the 5.9 was in the dakota until 2003 as an option.

 

[reek]

They also measure at 5/16".
The oem springs are not quite beehive either.

Though there is a nice drop in beehive spring that fits and with the correct retainer and keeper keeps the stock installed spring height.

yeah the springs aren't what I typically would think of as 'beehive' but the top of the coil taper just enough to be smaller than the other end. so the spring keepers that I've already tried will fit the lower end but not the top of the spring.

 

[pacofortacos]

Wait, are you looking for keepers or retainers???
Keepers are valve locks, retainers are the part that the keepers go into and sit on the valves.

 

[crazzywolfie]

checked ebay and local pick and pull. all the ram 1500's had their motors pulled already. Dakotas aren't listed with motor sizes so if the Hughes part doesn't pan out, the in-person easter egg hunt may be an option. I guess that would include vans too.

maybe look for ram vans. they most likely have their engines still since they are such a pain to remove.

 

[reek]

Wait, are you looking for keepers or retainers???
Keepers are valve locks, retainers are the part that the keepers go into and sit on the valves.

you're absolutely right, I meant retainers. I got a box of keepers. seems every time I mis-speak/type there seems to be a direct correlation with number of IPAs I've had that evening.

 

[Fast69Mopar]

you're absolutely right, I meant retainers. I got a box of keepers. seems every time I mis-speak/type there seems to be a direct correlation with number of IPAs I've had that evening.

All of the 3.9/5.2/5.9 Magnum retainers are the same as well as the 2.2/2.5 4-cylinder retainers. You can go all the way back to 1992 for the 5.2 and 1993 for the 5.9

The 2.2/2.5 stuff is from the mid-1980's all the way up into the early 1990's.

The valves are labeled as 8mm stems but they actually measure anywhere from 7.92-7.94mm.

If you run into problems with the Hughes 1278's shoot me a PM and I can ship you some for a good price. I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 complete sets.

 

[pacofortacos]

you're absolutely right, I meant retainers. I got a box of keepers. seems every time I mis-speak/type there seems to be a direct correlation with number of IPAs I've had that evening.

LOL that happens

What are you building? Stock rebuild?

 

[pacofortacos]

I keep seeing the valves listed as 8 mm, but mainly on forums, and I am not sure how that came about?
The specs and measurements have always been 5/16" - maybe someone likes metric more haha.

 

[reek]

LOL that happens

What are you building? Stock rebuild?

both my engine rebuilds are pretty stock-ish. I only had one complete set of magnum heads. it went on my 318 that got mostly good condition used parts. Now trying to complete my 360 rebuild that is getting mostly new parts.

https://www.ramforum.com/threads/can-i-post-a-frame-off-restoration-here.121147/

 

[reek]

All of the 3.9/5.2/5.9 Magnum retainers are the same as well as the 2.2/2.5 4-cylinder retainers. You can go all the way back to 1992 for the 5.2 and 1993 for the 5.9

The 2.2/2.5 stuff is from the mid-1980's all the way up into the early 1990's.

The valves are labeled as 8mm stems but they actually measure anywhere from 7.92-7.94mm.

If you run into problems with the Hughes 1278's shoot me a PM and I can ship you some for a good price. I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 complete sets.

the Hughes engines part didn't fit either. they're pretty much identical to the edelbrock parts in appearance and measurement.

I will send you a PM.