I bought a Howell topend kit and it came with Crane springs. I also bought some Crower titanium retainers because I cant find any others. Are the retainers susposed to snap into the top of the spring or are they susposed to slide in. They don't sit flush by just sitting them on the spring. I dont know because I have never done anykind of rebuild like this before. Any help would be appreciated. Hopefully I won't have to buy Crower springs too . Thanks

Should just be a flat surface for the spring to rest on. There's nothing for it to 'snap' into.

**EDIT**
Look at the pic below:

http://www.2kmotors.com/luke/pics/cougar/DSC06121.JP (add a G)

The spring just rests up against the retainer. It's not a 420a, but fundamentals are the same.

~Luke
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1969 Cougar - 11.91 - 380HP
2007 GSXR 750
1999 OZ - SOLD - 15.26 NA - 14.71 on 75 shot

Yeah mine don't fit flush at the top and bottom. It sits angled. I guess I will have to get crower springs.

anyone know the inside diameter on the Crowers? I can find the cranes but not the crowers.

i have crane springs and crower retainers, make sure your installing them the right way.

The retainer wont slide into the right position. It just sits ontop but it is not flush with the spring.

They don't fit, they are different sizes. I know this for a fact. Also, the Crower springs are stiffer than the Crane ones. The Crane retainers are for the Crane springs and the Crower retainers are made for the Crower springs. Call Crower and they will most likely tell you not to use the two different brands together. Hope I helped.

Crower springs:

OD = 1.1051"
ID = 0.785"
Wire Diameter = 0.164"

Crane:

OD = 1.065"
ID = 0.725"
Wire Diameter ~ 0.17" (estimated from OD & ID)

The Crower's are bigger by 0.060" in the inside and 0.040" on the outside.

Jeff's right, they're bigger and probably what's causing you the issues.

The kit from Crane you'd need with Crane springs & titanium retainers is 903-2003 (just the retainers are 158660-16); or the kit from Crower is 84176 (springs are 68191). The Crane setup does provide more pressure while the valves are open, though.

~Luke
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1969 Cougar - 11.91 - 380HP
2007 GSXR 750
1999 OZ - SOLD - 15.26 NA - 14.71 on 75 shot

I will probably go with the crower springs because the retainers would cost more if I wanted crane ones. Any one want a set of crane springs? lol.