[DefiantGSR]

i know skunk2 stage 1 cams say they can run on stock valvesprings but its better to move the intake valvesprings to your exhaust side and get ITR ones in the intake side. but could u run stock retainers with stage 1s? or should u get titanium ones? thanks

 

[ati2ude]

Your gonna want to upgrade your valve springs and retainers. Best get double valve springs and titanium retainers. At high rpm you want your valves closing as quick as possible to prevent oil passing through and burning. You want to keep your top end tight!

 

[MichaelDelaney]

lighter ti retainers are supposed to give you 300 rpm more on the redline from the weight savings and are stronger can withstand the higher heat if you have a higher than stock redline...otherwise it's not an essential item. I would nitride coat them to prevent valvespring galling....

 

[xFlipNotiKx]

i know skunk2 stage 1 cams say they can run on stock valvesprings but its better to move the intake valvesprings to your exhaust side and get ITR ones in the intake side. but could u run stock retainers with stage 1s? or should u get titanium ones? thanks

stage 1 u can run stock retainers fine.. anything higher and u will want to upgrade ur valvetrain

 

[BlueTeg]

lighter ti retainers are supposed to give you 300 rpm more on the redline from the weight savings and are stronger can withstand the higher heat if you have a higher than stock redline...otherwise it's not an essential item. I would nitride coat them to prevent valvespring galling....

MD,
Just want to double check that this applies for the B1 as well. Redline will remain at 6800 rpms even after I swap up to the 403 cams (no sense in trying to make a pig fly

).

So I will not need the titanium retainers, correct?

 

[DefiantGSR]

oh la la, MD has a new avatar. LOL

 

[b18bad]

blue, the valvetrain would stay out of float 300 rpm higher on the ls motor, but the real consern for us is the bottom end and it's bullsh*t rod ratio. I wouldn't spin mine a hair over the 7200 limiter.

 

[MichaelDelaney]

you don't need to go with ti retainers IMHO, if you aren't running high revs for a long time or need that extra 300 rpm.

I've known people who use stock 13 g retainers in high performance street B18C's with 9300 rpm redlines (including me). I also know some people who believed the hype and got the ti retainers when they did not need to and:

- in some cases, the retainer popped or cracked (improper fit and clearance from the first older Crower ti retainers leading to an incorrect valvespring installed height...Brian's fixed that now)...piston to valve contact was the result of that.

- in some cases, the retainer galled the valvespring causing it to fail and collapse with the resultant catastrophe associated with that. This usually happens with stiffer valvesprings.

Know WHY you are getting a ti retainer and WHEN you should upgrade to one. Ask yourself: What is the reason for doing it and is my engine ever going to be in a situation where I need this ? (i.e. high heat in FI, high heat with 5-10 min. of continuous revs above 6000 rpm and never dropping below 6000 rpm as in a Solo I lapping event, or need for lightened valvetrain mass for higher rpms)

If you were going to get them as I said, I recommed Portflow 7.3 g retainers ($160/set)which have the proper clearances to give you the proper installed height and nitride coating them to prevent valvespring galling and add further strenth and heat resistance. Never have seen or heard any bad reports about their retainers. Nitride coating adds a bit of weight but it's not substantial. The added cost of coating is about $80/set.

 

[BlueTeg]

Thanks. As always: your help is greatly appreciated.

 

[IndubitablySo]

what about the skunk stage 2? I have crower dual valve springs and crower ti retainers....how are those cams for daily driver and I do drive my car fairly hard. P.S. Im running a b20vtec with an old skool b16 head

also going on is jg cam gears, vafc, skunk2 IM, and GSR tb. Give me some input

 

[br1t1shguy]

Hell, just get titanium valves, springs, AND retainers, nitride coat em all so you dont gall you're valve seats and lifters, and raise you're redline even higher with some wild cams.

 

[mikef1182]

Just want to make sure I am clear on this. Even though crower says that thier vaulve spring/retainers set is needed with their 403's it is not unless I want to raise my redline(which I am not, I plan to keep it at 6800)?
thanx

 

[BlueTeg]

Yes you are correct. You do not need the retainers if you're keeping your stock redline of 6800 rpms.

In lieu of this thread, I opted to just get the Crower dual valve springs only (just ordered them today

).

 

[mikef1182]

thanx blue. What if I were to add a supercharger down the road, but still keep the same redline and only run 6psi? Would it be smart to upgrade?

 

[IntegraBad18c]

Hallejuh, somebody (tuan) finally got past the "lightweight" hype and put out some numbers. Praise the Lord.

 

[mikef1182]

i just read the article on SuperCharger basics and I have a queation regarding Cam Shafts. It says that create power through over lap and FI does not like that. Can anyone explain what over lap is and what adverse affects there might be by using agressive cams such as crower 403's with a SuperCharger?
thanx

 

[SpankyPop]

overlap is where both the intake and exhaust valve are open at the same time. In n/a applications, it aids in cylinder filling. In fi applications, you want less applicaion because the intake side is pressurized....and you can shoot fresh air/fuel into the exhaust.