Chewed up retainers
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: Burlingame, CA
Chewed up retainers I was changing my sparkplugs today and I decided I was gonna pull off my valvecovers to make the job easier and to make sure everything was ok under there. When I took the passenger side valve cover off I noticed that 3 of my retainers had marks on them were my rockers were hitting them. One of them is very bad, and looks all chewed up, and the rocker arm is actually in contact with the retainer right now. The other too only had slight marks on them. My heads are ARE stage 2s with double springs and I believe titanium retainers. What could have caused this problem, and how can I fix it. Also could this of been the culprit to my low dyno numbers? 378RWHP/346RWTQ sounds really low for what I have.
<small>[ July 11, 2002, 04:36 PM: Message edited by: BadAssY2KTA ]</small>
<small>[ July 11, 2002, 04:36 PM: Message edited by: BadAssY2KTA ]</small>
Re: Chewed up retainers With the larger diameter retainers that come with the dual springs, you have to clearance your rockers.
This is EASY to do, so don't panic. I did mine with a die grinder.
Basically, if you flip the rocker over you will see two ridges on either side of the letter that designates the rocker. Just remove these ridges with the grinder. Be careful not to get any dust into you needle bearings, or you can kiss them goodbye.
If you have any questions, feel free to email me.
Good Luck
<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />
This is EASY to do, so don't panic. I did mine with a die grinder.
Basically, if you flip the rocker over you will see two ridges on either side of the letter that designates the rocker. Just remove these ridges with the grinder. Be careful not to get any dust into you needle bearings, or you can kiss them goodbye.
If you have any questions, feel free to email me.
Good Luck
<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />
The Bull
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,578
Likes: 2
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Re: Chewed up retainers I've got ARE stage 2's as well. You just have to pocket the rocker arms. I have pictures of what mine look like under my head and cam install off my website. It's probably under day 3 or 4 of the install.
Head and Cam install pictures
Head and Cam install pictures
On The Tree
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: Fowlerville, MI
Re: Chewed up retainers I bet they looked like this <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />
Retainers
(Nick said they must have forgotten the instructions in my package)
BTW, I just dynoed last Saturday: 376rwhp/363rwtq, so it sounds like Nick is correct about my low numbers not being from a small cam.
<small>[ July 11, 2002, 07:48 PM: Message edited by: y2kz28 ]</small>
Retainers
(Nick said they must have forgotten the instructions in my package)
BTW, I just dynoed last Saturday: 376rwhp/363rwtq, so it sounds like Nick is correct about my low numbers not being from a small cam.
<small>[ July 11, 2002, 07:48 PM: Message edited by: y2kz28 ]</small>
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: Burlingame, CA
Re: Chewed up retainers Yeah thats funny they told me the same thing, "must of forgot to put the directions in with the heads." after all the money we pay for a product we still get screwed. Your dyno numbers sound like mine, you think the retainer/rocker arm problem caused it?
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Re: Chewed up retainers I think I'll be pulling the covers soon to check mine out.
I dont seem to be getting the power I should be, I was execting something closer to 400, even with the auto. Maybe that was just wishful thinking.
I hope your situation works out. Is your car an A4 or 6? Keep us filled in.
I dont seem to be getting the power I should be, I was execting something closer to 400, even with the auto. Maybe that was just wishful thinking.
I hope your situation works out. Is your car an A4 or 6? Keep us filled in.
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Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: Burlingame, CA
Re: Chewed up retainers Its an A4, and I am heading over to MMS to get dyno next week and maybe alittle LS1Edit tuning and well see what she puts down. If its not enough I will just turn on the bottle. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />
The Bull
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,578
Likes: 2
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Re: Chewed up retainers I will say that my heads did come with the note to machine the rockers. I went back and forth with Nick with some pictures while I was doing it. Basically I almost removed the entire rib on both sides of the stock rocker. I've got pictures of it HERE.
Anyway, after tuning and all my dyno at ARE was 403RWHP and 372RWTQ. Torque was down due to large exhaust ports and 1 7/8 headers. That's for some fun stuff in the future <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> .
The cam is a 224 224 114 .581 and the heads are a stage 2 double spring setup like most everyone elses.
<small>[ July 12, 2002, 07:50 AM: Message edited by: derty ]</small>
Anyway, after tuning and all my dyno at ARE was 403RWHP and 372RWTQ. Torque was down due to large exhaust ports and 1 7/8 headers. That's for some fun stuff in the future <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> .
The cam is a 224 224 114 .581 and the heads are a stage 2 double spring setup like most everyone elses.
<small>[ July 12, 2002, 07:50 AM: Message edited by: derty ]</small>
