Titanium/Steel Alloy Valve Retainers

[SlamedIAm]

Sorry if this is the wrong way of going about this but I searched for anything I could think of and couldn't find an answer.

My main question is when are upgraded valve retainers necessary? I see VAC offering their titanium retainers as well as steel alloy.

Is the only reason to allow for higher revving? Would that make it a race-engine only type part or is this something boosted engines may want?

Is the main benefit that they are lighter weight and that somehow allows the engine to rev higher or are they a weak point that are benefited by strengthening?

Sorry for noobness. Just trying to learn.

[SkiFree]

Titanium is strong and light but NOT as durable as steel. Titanium spring retainers are not a "forever part" and should be considered a "wear-item" on a race car (though I'd still run them on a race car, it's just something to be expected). On a street car (or weekend warrior) I wouldn't bother, not worth the risk/maintenance.

That's the simplest way I can explain it without getting "techy". Contrary to what VAC claims, they are not a "weak point" on the M20 valvetrain as much as say ... rockers, worn out springs, etc.

While VAC has them, so does Top End, and Ireland Engineering. There coming from the same couple of manufacturer.

[DTMbimmer07]

Just get the steel retainers have them in my head along with there springs, Ireland HD rockers, schrick cam and nuke cam gear. I suggest that you buy irelands hd rockers if you plan on reving high. there alot beefer then the stock ones and can save you money in the long run too.

[SlamedIAm]

I'm not purchasing anything at the moment, just trying to learn more about these engines. However I will be building a new head later this fall/winter that will start NA but eventually be boosted so I'm still researching all of the options.

[MR 325]

Contrary to what VAC claims, they are not a "weak point" on the M20 valvetrain as much as say ... rockers, worn out springs, etc.

Exactly what I was going to say.

I run stock retainers.

[digger]

if u want light retainers get a beehive single valve spring these have lighter spring and smaller and hence lighter retainer.

[SlamedIAm]

It's not that I want any one thing or another I just want to learn more about these engines. That way when I am ready to start purchasing/building I can plan more holistically rather than throwing random parts together.

[nando]

I've never heard of a stock spring retainer breaking on an M20.

rocker arms, sure. people putting in big cams and not checking clearance, sure.

beehive style springs with smaller steel retainers seems to be the better way to go if you want to save weight.

[SlamedIAm]

I've never heard of a stock spring retainer breaking on an M20.

rocker arms, sure. people putting in big cams and not checking clearance, sure.

beehive style springs with smaller steel retainers seems to be the better way to go if you want to save weight.

Is the only reason to save weight to rev higher in race applications?

What would the advantages/disadvantages be of a beehive type Metric Mechanic spring set and something like what Vac offers?

[digger]

Is the only reason to save weight to rev higher in race applications?

What would the advantages/disadvantages be of a beehive type Metric Mechanic spring set and something like what Vac offers?

the metric mechanic setup doesn't use overly high seat and nose pressure and wont do well with really agressive cams (without really light valves) despite being lighter, where as the VAC high performance setup will and can cater for much more lift before coil bind but will wear things out faster in most cases to higher forces being transmistted.

on e30tech there is a bunch of info on beehive springs from PAC that could be used with an M20 but this would be for high rpm engines the stock double valve springs are very good. If you are after a set of aftermarket dual springs i would look to VAC springs made by Eibach.

[TobyB]

None of this matters if you're not going over 6200. The stock parts do fine there.

The titanium's lighter, which reduces the chance of valve float- and that's not
an issue at stock revs.

A turbo doesn't make a difference, either- it's ONLY revs.

The turbo setup MIGHT benefit from oiling and cooling improvements, but really only if
you plan on running at a bar or more for extended periods, not just a romp up through the gears.

t