I will be installing a T1 cam and just wanted to see if I had the idea behind the Ti retainers correct. They are good if you're going to be revving to about 7000RPM and if you're not doing this the the stock retainers are fine, rigth?

 

Ti less weight, easier to spin the valve train. Less potential to float a valve.
Nate

 

Since I'll have my revlimiter raised to 6500 RPM, will valve float still be prominent enough to switch to Ti retainers? Thanks.

 

I decided not to get them. As said before very few folks need them. You are just wasting money with them. If you need different ones jst get steel. Garuntee you won't feel one bit of difference with titanium.

 

[quote]Originally posted by Jackyl_30:
<strong>I decided not to get them. As said before very few folks need them. You are just wasting money with them. If you need different ones jst get steel. Garuntee you won't feel one bit of difference with titanium.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Anyone know the exact weight of the titanium retainers vs. stock ones? I just looked it up and Titanium has a little less than 60% of the density of steel.

I know every bit helps, but I think I agree with Jackyl. If you add up the entire weight of the valves, retainers, keepers, and contributions from the valvesprings, it seems like the difference in the total accelerated mass of the valvetrain using stock vs. Titanium retainers would be very small (a couple of %, if that).

In my opinion this isn't worth the extra $160 - $180 cost.

I understand everyone has a different standard on whats worth it, but I can't imagine you would see any measurable gain on a dyno (within the tolerance of normal dyno runs) from using Titanium retainers.

 

I've been convinced by a few people that I need the Ti retainers. People have told me that the Ti retainers will give me a couple hundred extra rpm before valve float occurs (whatever rpm that may be for your car). I'm very cheap and I don't want to buy anything that I don't HAVE to buy, but I might as well go all out. <img src="gr_sad.gif" border="0"> I'm looking at a T1 with 918s as well.

 

I'll chime in here.

Remember that the stock valvespings are beehive shaped so the stock retainers are pretty small. I'm not comfortable trying to use that retainer on a true 1.25" sping. Comparing weight between stock/1.25" titanium doesn't really mean anything. And anytime you lighten valvetrain, incuding the springs themselves, the lighter the spring pressures you can run and less risk of breakage.

So my feeling is to do anything you can do to keep valvetrain light, especially if it won't produce more power for you. So why use 2.05 or 2.08 valves on the stock bore? You notice how those companies are using dual springs? It's the added weight.

Since you have to upgrade retainers anyway, spend the extra money and get quality parts that do help.

 

Thanks for all the input, fellas. <img src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" /> <img src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

 

[quote]Originally posted by Jantzer98SS:
<strong>I'll chime in here.

Remember that the stock valvespings are beehive shaped so the stock retainers are pretty small. I'm not comfortable trying to use that retainer on a true 1.25" sping. Comparing weight between stock/1.25" titanium doesn't really mean anything. And anytime you lighten valvetrain, incuding the springs themselves, the lighter the spring pressures you can run and less risk of breakage.

So my feeling is to do anything you can do to keep valvetrain light, especially if it won't produce more power for you. So why use 2.05 or 2.08 valves on the stock bore? You notice how those companies are using dual springs? It's the added weight.

Since you have to upgrade retainers anyway, spend the extra money and get quality parts that do help.</strong><hr></blockquote>


I thought one of the advantages of the 918 springs was that you could use the stock retainers - ie. the required the same size retainer?

Are the titanium retainers better? I have no doubt they are, if they cost the same I think everyone should use them, but they cost close to $200 dollars to upgrade. A lot of people seem to be running the 918s with stock retainers with pretty good sized cams, B1, TR224 etc.

If you are running a much bigger cam that you are on the verge of valvefloat with the stock retainers than, yes the Titanium retainers are worth it.

The 918's are pretty stiff springs, I don't think for B1, TR224 range of cams, the titanium retainers are required. Just throwing out my opinion, I don't claim to be an expert. Please feel free to jump in if I am talking out may a$$... <img src="images/icons/confused.gif" border="0"> LOL

 

Just for stats, I'm running the 918's with stock retainers with my rev limiter @ 6800 RPM. I dynoed 378/382 before my new y-pipe and 3.5" exhaust. Thunder 224 cam w/ stock heads.

I've had about 5000 miles on my setup and everything has been holding up (knock on wood). I have bounced off of the 6800 rev limiter a few times and it's still driving like it did on day one.

 

well since the stock sized retainers are so small, I really don't think you will need a Ti retainer. I would think a stock retainer would weigh close to the same as a Ti retainer on a dual valve spring...maybe even less.

its an expensive upgrade for something that will more than likely not even dyno 1 true HP more

 

I just changed from 941s to 918s with Ti retainers(772s). The Ti retainers were a nice tight fit in the 918s. The stock steel retainers had quite a bit of play(~1mm). I don't have precise weights for the different retainers but I did rig up a small balance scale.

2 Ti retainers > 1 stock steel retainers
3 Ti retainers << 2 stock steel retainers

Steve

 

I think I'll just go with the steel retainers from Comp Cams for these 918's <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0">

 

[quote]Originally posted by NastyC5:
<strong>I think I'll just go with the steel retainers from Comp Cams for these 918's <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0"> </strong><hr></blockquote>

If your going to use the steel retainers, why not just save your money and use the stock ones like everyone else?

 

Stock retainer on top and CC TI 772 on the bottom.



'98 ls1 spring/retainer, '02 ls6 spring/retainer, brand new 918 spring/TI retainer



[ March 06, 2002: Message edited by: Teddy98Z28M6 ]</p>

 

Levi, when are you installing the new cam?

 

In a few weeks. I'm just gathering all the info I can and fish around for the best prices <img src="gr_grin.gif" border="0">

 

[quote]Originally posted by Teddy98Z28M6:
<strong>

If your going to use the steel retainers, why not just save your money and use the stock ones like everyone else?</strong><hr></blockquote>

I would get the steel ones so that they'd fit better than the stock retainers.

 

I haven't done enough research on retainers to know that there were steel replacements for our retainers. Hmmm...now I have 3 choices. Argh! I don't know which retainers to use now. <img src="images/icons/confused.gif" border="0"> I know what's best, but i'm cheap and on a tight budget. I think reliability should be my deciding factor, so let me ask this: Will there be any effect on spring longevity with Ti retainers?

 

Everyone has pretty much said that the lighter the retainers you get increased life from the springs. That's what I have found anyway.