After hours of searching the internet and all the honda and car forums I know of, I felt it was necessary to start a thread concerning the issue, as I was unable to a solid answer. Yes or no.

I have recently acquired a 94 GSR Integra, the car came to me with aftermarket dual valvesprings and titanium retainers already installed. The car had a timing belt installed too tight which caused the cams to eat up the rockers. The cams are stock gsr. I have the car torn apart now, and I have stock gsr valvesprings, different good condition gsr cams, and good rockers from another running motor.

My question is, Can you run STOCK GSR cams with aftermarket dual valvesprings?

Every thread I see just beats around the bush and people just suggest five million different combination's of valvetrain setups.. A friend of mine suggested that the aftermarket valvesprings is what caused the cams to eat up the rockers, however I know alot of high hp turbo guys are running stock gsr cams, and I cant imagine they are still running stock valvesprings with high rev race motors. The car came to me running, but making lots of noise in the head. I've got it torn down to the point where I need to either remove the dual valvesprings and install stock ones, or just spend the extra money on aftermarket cams..

I am doing all this without removing the cylinder head, this is a car I'm trying to flip, so I want to get it running as soon as possible. The bottom end is just an LS w/ ITR pistons, so I don't feel it completely necessary to go and install big cams when I'm just going to be driving the car to work and back until it sells.

Any input is greatly appreciated.





**Not sure if this made it into the correct section, please move if not

 

Yes you can!

 

Ok. Well there is one vote in my favor for saving some cash. I was having a hard time getting the retainer to let go of the keepers. I have a nice overhead valvespring compressor, motor at tdc, I can compress the valvespring all the way down (while pumping air into the cylinder to hold the valves up) and it still not let go of the keepers. I tried using a strong magnet, and frankly, I don't have time to be messin around with this car as I have 3 other projects to finish on top of side work..


I guess it just boils down to the fact that I don't wanna put time into the car if I don't have to, and if I don't NEED buy aftermarket cams I surely wont. I could use that money elsewhere.


I just wanted confirmation and some evidence that it is ok to run the stock gsr cams with aftermarket dual valvesprings (not sure of brand, not sure if that is a factor)


Fast response is appreciated! I am picking up an oem timing belt tomorrow and if I can run the stock cams with those valvesprings I will have the car running and driving tomorrow.

 

im pretty sure that a over tight timing belt would not be the main cause of eating the rockers , for it to do so from the timing belt being to tight it would have messed up were the cams sit in the head first , more than likely your rocker problem was caused by poor oiling or when the dual springs were installed the valve lash was not correct

 

Well that was the first clue during the teardown. It was also one of those fancy blue kevlar timing belts that don't stretch, and it was TIGHT.

I received the car with the problem, so I didn't check valve lash. Car had the right amount of oil on the dipstick before I drained it. The cylinder head had plenty of oil in it. Valve lash was prolly the issue, I didn't think of that. The previous owner had just recently swapped back to stock cams and two days later had the issue. Luckily the issue started in my driveway, and I picked the car up for a price I just couldn't pass up.

I will be installing the new(er) rockers from a good running gsr tomorrow morning, as well as the stock gsr cams and a new oem timing belt.



I just wanted to hear some other peoples experiences with running the stock gsr cams with the beefed up aftermarket dual valvesprings. I will be selling the car but would still like to be aware of any longevity issues or anything of that nature..

Thanks again guys!

 

yea you can run stock cams with the upgraded valve springs and retainers.
when i installed skunk 2 valve springs and retainers in my b18c5 i decided on selling my stg 2 cams and just reinstalled my oem itr cams. years later the car is still fine and running.

 

Awesome. Thats all I needed to hear.


Now if someone else does the same search as me at least there is a thread concerning the issue.

Thanks for the fast response guys! Should have the car running today.