I just bought some Zex/Comp cams the 57200's stage 2's. The recommended matching valve train has 2 options the steel kit which is 16 dual springs w/ steel retainers and the other has the same springs but with titanium retainers. There is like a $200 price diff between the 2. My question is it really necessary to get the titaniums. Why would they be better than the steels? With titanium does it maker safer to go a little higher in the rpm's than it would with the steels or does it even make a difference at all about the retainer when referring to high rpms.

 

If youre going to keep the stock rev limit, the titanium arent very useful. The lighter material helps when you want to rev the motor higher.

 

The motor i'm using is a B18C1 same head, JDM p73 standard pistons, stock GSR rods, ARP rod bolts, and head bolts and studs, and a bunch of bolt ons w/VAFC. Right now I'm doing the break-in thing. The valve train i have now is the Comp cams but I'm using KMS dual springs w/tit. retainers. I've read a lot about how mis-matched valve train can cause major probs. Thats why i'm gonna get one of the 2 sets of springs and retainers that i mentioned in the first post because they are the recommended matching valve train. I don't plan on revving past 8500 but the custom chip that i had programmed for my set-up from GBR tuning allows me to go to 9k if i wanted. Would i need the titanium retainers for 8500 or 9k or is it overkill and the steels be ok?

 

Crower now offers CroMo steel retainers coz people like to use Crower Ti in street motors running alot of miles.

But if your Ti retainer and spring fit snug you shouldn't have problems with galling.

 

Titanium

 

ok...here is my questions with them tho..i have heard that the titaniums wear out way quicker and that if you are planning on running your car on the street and putting a decent (read 15000 or more) amount of miles on your car a year, that they are somewhat pointless because they will wear out and get weaker and you will have to replace them quicker...anyone else heard this?

 

I have customers running my ti retainers for years.... ive never had an issue with premature wear.