This is the tool i used, along with a caliper set to 1.366" (34.7mm) - The FSM specification for an installed valve spring - checked in 1986 AE86 FSM and 1989 AE92 FSM.
1.366" (34.7mm) This is our standard. All spring were brought to this point, and from this point on coil bind was found. On advicve from Loynings, .050" off coil bind is maximum "allowable" VALVE lift. I capitalized VALVE lift because it is different from cam lift* in this situation
*Coil bind doesn't change - with heating, valve stem length can "grow", but with the stems "growth", so will the spring, BUT when compressed, the coils will still bind at the same point - thus for purposes of valve springs - valve lifts, and not cam lifts are being referred too.
OEM stock (USED) - 35#s @ 34.7mm(1.366"), full bind comes in @ .349", subtract .050" and you are left with .299" before "effective coil bind". Pressure @ "effective coil bind - 96#s
- Since for this test I didn't have any new OEM springs I used 2 used springs. For point of fact... I recently did have some new OEM springs, and only 14 of the 16 springs actually met the minimum height in the FSM, the other 14 were within .03mm or less - spec is 41.09mm The two used ones I have measured out to 40.92, and 40.90. So they were pretty close.
HKS - 30#s @ 34.7mm(1.366"), full bind comes in @ .415", subtract .050" and you are left with .365" before "effective coil bind". Pressure @ "effective coil bind - 120#s
Toda - 42#s @ 34.7mm(1.366"), full bind comes in @ .419", subtract .050" and you are left with .369" before "effective coil bind". Pressure @ "effective coil bind - 128#s
I will be going back in a few days... I will confirm these numbers on a 2nd attempt later this week......