I've had a noise in my engine (sounds like lifers) for a while and I was in checking everything and I found that number 8 exhaust sping I can turn in the pocket with even thou there is no play in the rocker. I can't turn any of the other springs.

My question is, Is this normal?

Ric,
All of them should be the same. If you can turn one, you should be able to turn all of them. It just depends on the spring pressure. You need to check them with the rockers loose. Take a real close look at the suspect spring with a flashlight. Any chance it is broken ? Does it have an inner spring, or a damper ? Are they possibly broken ? Thats all I can think of right now.

Big block Chevies have been famous for pulling the keepers through the retainers. Might want to compare this valve with the one beside it.

that sucks...........last time i could spin a spring there was no valve under neath it.:(

Ric,
All of them should be the same. If you can turn one, you should be able to turn all of them. It just depends on the spring pressure. You need to check them with the rockers loose. Take a real close look at the suspect spring with a flashlight. Any chance it is broken ? Does it have an inner spring, or a damper ? Are they possibly broken ? Thats all I can think of right now.

Bill,

I took your advice and loosened the it and now I can't turn the spring. I can't see anything wrong with the spring or the inter spring. I have not been able to drive it tonight because I have a oil leak now that I have to find ( It's got to be from the rocker covers since that is all I worked on tonight)

At least the valve is still there....lol