Searching for the right valve spring? Check our valve spring specs page and call us with any questions. Valve spring customers receive free advice on any engine tuning troubles
“Most racing teams know Joe as the definitive authority on competition valve train, for that’s how he initially became known. And it’s a reputation that’s made him near indispensable” - John Medlen
JHE offers PSI competition valve springs for all forms of racing, see our valve spring specs page for details.
These springs are manufactured under strict quality controls, which include 100-percent load-testing and set-matching. Precise dimensional tolerances and batch-to-batch consistency are further results of strict procedures.
For endurance racing engines, the springs are subjected to nitriding, which hardens the surfaces for durability. All PSI valve springs are subjected to heat-treating and special surface preparation. JHE spring customers receive free advice on any engine tuning troubles.
Competition valve springs
It’s unlikely that valve spring development will alter the course of history, no matter how innovative. But imagine the prospects if you could partner with a company with sufficiently restless minds—young engineers with a consuming passion—that persistently test and assess different alloys and different processes that ultimately distinguish a competition valve spring beyond all others.
“To my knowledge,” insists Joe Hornick, “almost every professional championship-winning team in U.S. auto racing, most credibly endurance racing, uses PSI valve springs. The list is long and includes NASCAR, IndyCar, and all NHRA professional classes.”
Over the past decade, competition valve springs have taken a quantum leap forward in their performance and duration. These advances are credited to the availability of improved materials and processes, which make them stronger and also smaller, which means lighter.
Cleanliness
Decades ago, a valve spring manufacturer conceived a valve spring wire known as Superclean. Basically, they had found a way to remove firebrick from the wire. This was the first major step in removing inclusions—foreign particles embedded in the wire—thereby introducing greater cleanliness.
The constant challenge for all valve spring makers is finding better alloys and cleaner processes that will yield superior strength. Says Joe Hornick: “Valve springs for original-equipment manufacturers are adequate. But if you're supplying valve springs to Top Fuel teams, IndyCar or NASCAR teams who expect them to perform at full throttle for 500 miles and more, other crucial processes are required.” Race engine builders have reputations to protect and they’re keen to avoid any hint of failure.
Jeff Villemure of PSI says, “We devote a lot of time to the production of competition valve springs, paying attention to details, constantly refining the processes, and passing along those gains directly to our street car consumers.”
Shot-peening
The shot-peening process, now a familiar procedure in the production of competition valve springs, is an important innovation.
An interesting report once appeared after someone encouraged Teflon™ pioneer Bruce Nesbitt to apply his coating formula to valve springs. Apparently it worked or it appeared to work. Then they discovered that the springs’ improved longevity had less to do with the coating application and more to do with the shot-peening process used in the springs’ preparation.
Shot peening and the experimentation with shot continues. It is applied multiple times and some of the shot material is now so small in size it can be measured only under a microscope. Most high quality competition valve springs are distinguished by a final polishing process, a beguiling burnished effect that further refines the surface and eliminates microscopic blemishes. Nothing endures like quality.
Call (704) 664-7322 with questions
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