I started this post about an hour ago with a little anger over some of the things that have been spoken. I deleted about 4 paragraphs and went to breakfast simply because I didn't feel very professional about the post. I have listened to those who speak with out much knowledge from research and shoot from the hip just to have something to post. I have listened to those who are in support of their own agenda. Now that I have had time to settle down, I will try it again. I do not think there is anyone in the country who has worked on the spring deal more than I. If so, I apologize for taking sole credit. Lets start from the beginning. No one ever looks back and takes the time to thank those who have given us the opportunity that we currently have using this engine. Everybody wants to bite the hand that feeds them. There wasn't any possible way for the engineers of this engine program to look into the future and foresee the problems that are in existence right now. If so, we wouldn't be having this conversation. No one knew, back in the day, how much evolution this engine was going to go through. It started out as " out of the box". Then the fuel tank was removed due to vibration and breakage. Then the exhaust system was updated to a more performance exhaust because it needed to sound better. Then the air box was restricting performance so along came the aftermarket air filter system. Now, shops are starting to see sales. Fuel tanks, carb adapters, and exhaust systems and mufflers. Next, you have a bunch of guys that want it to sound a little more like a race engine so how about a local track option that will allow a big pipe. Now we sound like a race engine!!! But, we can't turn the rpm we want because we are mushrooming the valves on the stock springs. So, lets make a better spring. Everybody is on board for this. No one to my knowledge has complained. Until there was a recognition that some of the springs were better than others. To my knowledge, ALL organizations were on board when the Spring weight system came about. Everyone was in agreement that we needed a way to control the spring pressure. They tried to use the current " on the market" spring pressure gauges but there was way to much inconsistency between the same two units. Now, I am not sure who in the organization came up with the weight system but everyone was in agreement that it was the way to go. And so it was. It actual was doing it's job of keeping the spring under control for quite some time without controversy. Until there was a new spring on the market that was designed to run a few races or run on the dyno until it came down to the legal pressures required. Now it is in the hands of the builders to make sure that the spring in the engine is legal. It is also in the hands of the supplier to sell a legal spring to the customer. If a small guy, ( DIY'er) can't afford the tester it is his responsibility to inform the seller that he MUST have a set of LEGAL springs because he doesn't have the tooling to check it. Knowing that the weight system is a part of the tech procedure it is the responsibility of the seller or the builder to make sure he has a set of legal springs. How hard is that to understand? So because of negligence on every ones part we should open the spring rule so no one is held responsible for their own mistakes. Sure, lets open the rod rule so we have to spend 60 bucks on a rod just because there were people not responsible for paying attention to the spring rule and they got D.Q.'d. Next , lets allow aftermarket rockers to the tune of 30 dollars because we are turning more RpM and are now breaking them. Oh, and by the way , lets allow a better push rod for 20 dollars because now that we are turning more rpm we are bending them. Shucks, while we are at it we might as well send the engine out to get the cam gear welded so it doesn't slip to the tune of 20 dollars. I worked my but off trying to figure out a way to not use the tooling. Every spring maker I talked with told me that even if we came up with an uninstalled height, they would be able to make a spring that would still turn to many rpm for the stock components. Now that doesn't mean the AKRA isn't going to stop looking for a resolution to the situation because I haven't stopped yet. But, until we find the resolution that will keep the added cost to this engine from happening the weight system is our best friend for now. It is the responsibility of the builder no matter who it is to make sure that the springs are legal to the program they are running under. If you are not competent enough to build the engine around the rules you are working under don't put the blame elsewhere. Quit putting the blame on the equipment that is used to catch your mistake.