Valve springs and retainer question

Flat4ever · 05-10-2004, 02:40 AM

Hi all,

My 2.0 engine rebuild is pretty finished. We choose Webcam #86a camshaft (valve lift .435 & 290° duration), Webcam 00-263 new lifters, chromoly new pusrods, Webcam VS-P00 new HD springs and shims. Webcam said "stock retainers OK" but my mechanic found that stock retainers did not fit correctely.

So, he decided to use alumium retainers and put them as you can see below.

But when I show the picture to some friends, they told me that alumium retainers could break.

The problem is that the engine is in the car now and if I decide to change them, we need to remove heads. Valves are stock 42x36 ones.

I would like to have any advice about the real risk with these retainers.

Jason Porter · 05-10-2004, 09:22 AM

I can't imagine aluminum retainers being strong enough to last very long. My valve train is similar to yours in setup, from the cam out. And I'm using chromoly retainers.

The thing is, there is so much spring tension. Even with a stock cam, I don't think you could get away with aluminum. But if your cam profile caused a spring upgrade, which it did, then there's even more pressure on your retainers. Pull the heads, better now than later when it will cost you more than just your time.

Good luck.

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

No idea on the retainers... But I don't see a pushrod tube retaining wire. That's the odd-shaped bent wire that goes into the slots on the lower side of the rocker stands and pushes on the shoulders of the pushrod tube. They're useful for making sure the tubes don't "walk" out as the engine expands and contracts.

--DD

Flat4ever · 05-10-2004, 10:47 AM

Dave,

The head was pictured BEFORE installing the pushrods tubes retaining wire. But they are in place...

Thanks for all. We decided today to replace these aluminium retainers with Chromoly retainers.

Jason Porter · 05-10-2004, 10:55 AM

Good decision.

Zeke · 05-10-2004, 01:22 PM

Are there aluminum retainers? I thought they were titaium, which is strong.

Jason Porter · 05-10-2004, 01:24 PM

You could probably machine aluminum retainers, but I can't imagine why...

Titanium should work fine with that cam, although the chromoly would probably be a bit cheaper.

Jake Raby · 05-10-2004, 02:36 PM

Most all these retainers have uneven keeper seats and change sopring pressures.. I have seen them rip keepers straight through them and waste engines.

Good titanium retainers are more than 150 bucks a set.

Flat4ever · 05-11-2004, 12:07 AM

Thanks for all your interesting answers.

I will buy chromoly retainers not titanium. Of course, the price is one of the reasons, but I also have chromoly pusrods. Not really light...

I have also heard about Remmele (Germany) retainers, in special aluminium alloy, designed for planes industry, with ceramic coating. They are not cheap, but something like half than titanium

Philippe