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Hello all. My first post here. I am building up a 2.5 Klze and want to swap its inlet springs and retainers for DE spec items. sadly I'm struggling to find anyone here in nz happy to split an engine down to sell me these bits.

I have sitting two other k engines. A KF and a k8. I'm wondering if either of them might give me the parts I need but not sure if they have smaller valve springs and retainers to go with the smaller inlet valves they have ( I'm presuming KF's share the smaller k8 valves?)

Another question too.... Do the KF or k8 ZEs share the same weak retainer problem as the Klze ?

Cheers
Alex

i have DE spec valvetrain stuff i can sell you pm me

Cool..I've pm'd you but usually the post is a killer.

Has anyone on here got a kl and k8/KF engine in bits and wouldn't mind measuring the spring diameters for me?

I reckon (hope) that they probably all share the same sized springs and retainers. Just the valve head diameter that changes?

I just checked Mazda part numbers for intake/exhaust valve springs the 93 1.8L (MX-3) and 2.5L (MX-6) engines, they both use the same springs on both valves: KL0-112-125A

I looked up a 95 Millenia 2.5L and this is where things get different, since this version of the 2.5L has the larger intake valve springs like the JDM KLZE. Part numbers are KL0-112-125A (exhaust) and KL3-112-125 (intake). Of course the larger intake springs and retainers are the ones prone to cracking and failing leading the dropped intake valves.

So to answer your question, based on the info from a OEM Mazda parts catalog, you can use either intake or exhaust valve springs and retainers from a 1.8L MX-3 engine in your KLZE to replace the larger intake valve springs and retainers...

Hope this helps!
Tim

Thank you very much for that info Tim! fantastic help.

I have popped out an inlet and exhaust valve from one of the heads I plan to use. After some google image searching it looks like the inlet retainers have been upgraded to millennia spec items. They are quite a bit thicker than stock ZE ones? I found this image...



Mine are definitely the ones on the left. They measure about 9.3mm/ .375" tall.

Now my inlet springs have a funny diamond shaped cross section. Is this usual for ZE? They seem ever so slightly softer than the exhaust springs (using the hand-o-meter to measure..)

I have also realised that I could of course use the spare exhaust springs and retainers on my spare ZE heads I have at work!!!

While im doing the swaps I will take all the valves out and re Lap the seats and give them a good clean- bad house keeping on my behalf has allowed dirt to get in the ports

Alex

Hey Alex,

I am running DE springs and retainers on my inlet valves on my ZE, with no problems (~9000km).

The OEM ZE inlet springs are weaker (40 lbs per in) vs the K08/KLDE springs rates of 50 lbs per in (these numbers are what I remember when I did the research last year). The ZE inlet springs do look different compared to the exhaust springs... not sure why Mazda chose to go with weaker springs.

Anyway, stiffer inlet/exhaust springs are good at preventing float at high rpm, add the better retainers and you have a safer valve train at high RPM...

Yes, you could just use the exhaust springs from your second set of ZE heads as well...

Later,
Tim

Cool this is what I want to hear. The spare heads I have are sitting around doing nothing so I might as well rob them of the springs/ retainers! Free too so the price is right!