A friend has a b20 bottom with B16 head vtec swap in a civic. He's got Skunk2 Tuner Stage 2 camshafts in a stock head. I noticed skunk2s website recommends using their aftermarket spring valve and retainers among a few of the recommended upgrades to use these cams. I also saw someone say using a stock valve train can cause coil bind and valve float. Is any of this true? Also if using a stock valve train cause him not to get the maximum horsepower possible, or even cause the motor to run like crap? Thanks!

 

Those cams on stock valvetrain will lead to big problems. Tell him to park it, and get some springs and retainers. I'm sure the S2 alphas can be purchased from one of the forum sponsors for a good price.

 

pretty much.. He's asking for a lot of trouble

 

any performance app, even with stock cams, needs fresh performance springs.

do you want to run sub-30lbs seat pressure from tired-*** springs in a performance app,....No

55lbs like Toda, RM, etc is plenty, don't need 85lbs IMO

 

its not really about "not" getting the maximum horsepower possible if using stock valvetrain

to be more specific, its valve control that you will lack
valve float and bounce due to inability of the oem springs to control the motion given by the bigger lobe/cam

so put it this way, it could be at 5k or 6k or 7k rpm or even 8k rpm who knows
you'd hear a soft revlimit/misfire of sorts and ur floating ur valve, next u drop a valve
blown motor = that i agree wont get you the max horsepower possible

"or even cause to run like crap" = if it blows up.. it wont run at all after LOL

ive seen someone snap an OEM retainer by doing this and blew the motor
virtually turned everything into junk... i generally would feel bad... but honestly i chuckled and laughed at that one... cuz he said " il just take iteasy driving for now "

 

sorry to threadjack, but i have a quick question. whats the highest rpms b16 INTAKE valve springs can handle? and if not the highest, when do they start to reach that danger zone?

 

never really thought about it but damn less than 30 lb pressure!

agreed about no need for 85lbs. i have them in my boosted motor and i attribute them in some capacity to stretching/wearing oem belts out and ive even seen my cam gear keyways wear and start to shear. i know u guys in here would know if the springs helped those things happen.

i still think the 02 rsx retainers are a fantastic bang for the buck

 

55lbs on the seat has worked on 700whp turbo motors. I would use a little more pressure for these engines though