red shadow

Can i use Crane Dual valvespring with stock retainers ?

crainholio

iTrader: (2)

No. Stock is beehive shaped and smaller O.D. at the top than the Cranes.

smask04C5

iTrader: (1)

use the crane compliment Ti retainer

crainholio

iTrader: (2)

The steel Crane retainer is a fine choice, Ti retainers compromise affordability and some amount of strength. For the extra 300 or so RPM peak, is it worth it??

I went with their steel retainer, and spent some of the leftover $$ on upgraded Manley locks. Still had enough $$ left in the diff between steel and titanium retainers to fill the tank a time or two...

fast98

iTrader: (16)

ya but why you you replace the locks? is there a known problem with stock ones.......no there isnt. and titanium is not weaker the steel. i might not know the exact strength qualites of both but ti has been used for a long time with high revs and high spring pressures. its worth the money

crainholio

iTrader: (2)

We're not talking about locks.

If you're trying to connect a <$15 cost diff (GM locks versus aftermarket) to a $125 cost diff (Ti versus steel retainers) in some effort to argue with me, you're reaching just a bit there sparky.


That's a very broad statement and impossible to support...it depends on the alloy's properties, its quality, and the manufacturing process quality. All of which are constrained by the economics of the target price point.

Unless you know exactly which alloy is being used in both the Ti and steel pieces, or you're willing to fund some failure mode testing, it's impossible to support what you've stated.

In your opinion. Crane Ti retainers cost $179, steel are $53, you get an extra ~200-300rpm for your $126 with, at best, no additional strength compared to the steel retainers.

How exactly is that a good investment?

XTrooper

Your "cost argument" is a valid one. If you don't have the money to pay the extra cost of titanium retainers or you just don't want to, then you use the steel ones instead. Your statement that titanium retainers compromise some degree of strength is no more supported than the argument that they don't. That said, the fact is there's no need for fast98 or anyone else to conduct any "failure mode testing" on them as titanium retainers have been thoroughly tested and proven for the years they've now been in use.

For someone like myself, who has experienced valve float issues in the past, the titanium retainers were worth every penny of their cost. Even if you don't have a problem with valve float, lightening your valvetrain components is never a bad thing.

crainholio

iTrader: (2)

You're right, the only data I have to support my assertion that consumer-grade Ti retainers aren't as durable as steel ones is two anecdotal failure incidents.

These were in road course conditions, 20+mins of continuous WOT/lift/WOT engine service. Maybe a tad more demanding than 12sec of drag racing.

I understand that two cases doesn't support a statistically-valid conclusion. However with both involving Ti retainers failing, and zero cases of steel ones doing it, this makes me uncomfortable with their durability.

So it's another case of picking the right part for the right application and the right wallet size.

XTrooper

I'll go along with this every time!

crainholio

iTrader: (2)

You have metallurgical proof to back that up, or is that an opinion disguised as fact?

XTrooper

You mean you don't pick out the "select" retainers like Alexahente picks out the choicest coffee beans?

crainholio

iTrader: (2)

Really? You're selling the notion that DEI buys their valvetrain components out of the Comp Cams catalog, off the shelf pieces just like normal hobbyists?