Hey! I'm sure the answers are out there, and a part of them problem I'm facing is not knowing what terminology to use to search for it. Having said that, at what power thresholds do you need to build what part of the head, and by how much? My goal is to have a general consensus on this information, as there's a lot out there about the bottom end but very little about the top, and how boost effects the load on valve springs and if it can cause valve float.

I personally am planning on making around 450whp with a Rev limiter at 8200 rpm with a pr3 head, ferrea ti retainers and stock itr dual valve springs. I'm wondering if that would be safe for a daily driver, and if I should lower my power goal, shell out for better springs, or if I'm safe for a daily where I'm at. all info appreciated

Cheers!
chilly

 

you could get by with a stock head at that power, but it would be little room for error imo. Oem valves with retainers and a mild valve spring would be nice and give you some room Incase you had a missed shift or over rev. OEM valves are actually not that bad

 

I've thought about upgrading, but the only option that isn't a few hundred dollars is the supertech valve springs, and i've heard bad things ranging from losing 20lb of seat pressure after a while to completely dropping valves on numerous occasions. I figured with type r springs, they're good for 8500 out of the factory and don't have a rep for totally engines. I guess my main question for you would be how great of an impact does boost have on the job of the valve springs, if any at all? Would running a GT3582 turbo at 16 psi cause issues, and should I have a lower limiter than 8200 in that case?

 

the boost does push againts the valves, put there is also increased cylinder pressure pushing the opposite way keeping the valve shut. A set of skunk2 alpha springs would be a solid option. Spend 200 now or 2000 later if something fails....... that’s how I try to look at it. I over built mine when I built mine, then I realized I wanted to keep pushing it, so I’m very glad I did some better parts for growth

 

I have ferrea titanium retainers, and I've heard they're supposed to be replaced every 20,000 miles or so, so I think im just going to do a relatively conservative tune, at whatever my boost controller maxes out at with a 13lb spring. Should be right around 450, then unless I want to beat on it I can turn it down and then I'll just upgrade my springs when I go to replace my retainers within the year. I've seen tons of people say they're making high 400 or even into 500hp with stock gsr heads, and since I have type r springs and ti retainers I think i should be safe

 

Are the springs new? I tested a set (ITR dual springs) I had been running on a tester at the machine shop, and they were very fatigued. Got Rocket Motorsports with Ferrea 6000, Ferrea Locks and OEM K20 moly retainers (they fit B series)
Also, OEM ITR valves are lighter than non-ITR, so the springs designed to control those valves are probly lower rate and seat pressure than B16/GSR. They're just dual on both sides.

That said, I ***-raped mine with B16 valves and used ITR springs for years on low boost, only one valve was slightly bent from kissing a piston when I replaced them. I got really lucky I think.
ITR springs have special paint on them and the wire is oval-shaped, if anyone is sold plain springs as ITR or wants to ID some.