Need a new cam, which is best for a towing application?

[WUnderwood]

Don (f1) doesnt have his phone # on his site, you have to talk to one of his dealers. I hear that he gets A BUNCH of phone calls a day

 

[Jetpilot]

titanium is 30% lighter and 50 % stronger than steel, but it is a lot more money too.

This is correct but you don't want to be running titanium in street motors, the durability isn't near as good. Titanium is very strong but is brittle. You also need to be very careful what valvesprings you are running... ... I have a motor here that snapped a valve due to excessive pressure. This motor only had about 10-15K of miles on the spring setup. This entire motor is now junk.



As for cams the Helix 2 that was recommended is awesome. We have installed about 1/2 dozen of them and sold countless more with all customers happy. The F1 sprrings are the best option I have found. There are others out there but be careful or you may be replacing an entire engine!



Doug Smith

 

[jwilliams3]

Doug,

Sorry to hear about the motor.

 

[Jetpilot]

GShail,



Tried to PM you but your box is full... ...



Doug

 

[Jetpilot]

Justin,



Ya the motor is a goner..... I will post some pics of the head, valves, and piston. Trouble is the motor was turned up but not really run hard, in fact it was cruising down the highway at 65 mph when it let go. The darn valve just snapped off the stem! You should see what a valve bouncing around the bore can do!



Doug

 

[Diesel Power]

Justin,



Ya the motor is a goner..... I will post some pics of the head, valves, and piston. Trouble is the motor was turned up but not really run hard, in fact it was cruising down the highway at 65 mph when it let go. The darn valve just snapped off the stem! You should see what a valve bouncing around the bore can do!



Doug

hey doug, i am only talking about 60-65 psi springs here, the same thing that is avalible from f1, only made by someone else, out stock springs are between 48-50psi, depending on how many miles are on them, the 10-15 psi wont hurt a thing, what rate were you running?. also if titanium were not durable it would not be made as a retainer, as that takes the most strain, plus it all boils down to what i want or what is best. this i feel is best--with hundreds of customers who use this that will back it up, who have logged many miles, please help me to understand you point of view.

 

[Jetpilot]

hey doug, i am only talking about 60-65 psi springs here, the same thing that is avalible from f1, only made by someone else, out stock springs are between 48-50psi, depending on how many miles are on them, the 10-15 psi wont hurt a thing, what rate were you running?. also if titanium were not durable it would not be made as a retainer, as that takes the most strain, plus it all boils down to what i want or what is best. this i feel is best--with hundreds of customers who use this that will back it up, who have logged many miles, please help me to understand you point of view.

Well the spring rates you are quoting for stock and F1 are incorrect..... The stock spring closed pressure is higher than what you state, the problem is the spring rate and coil bind. As for titanium being dureable or it would not be used is bull, there are lots of products out there that are junk. Just because its made and used doesn't make it good. Go and do a search on metallurgy and check titanium and brittleness, it is very hard and light but repeated pounding of everyday use is not what is best. On a race engine looking for every available HP and limited use titanium is awesome but on a everyday engine its not the best choice.

 

[Diesel Power]

Well the spring rates you are quoting for stock and F1 are incorrect..... The stock spring closed pressure is higher than what you state, the problem is the spring rate and coil bind. As for titanium being dureable or it would not be used is bull, there are lots of products out there that are junk. Just because its made and used doesn't make it good. Go and do a search on metallurgy and check titanium and brittleness, it is very hard and light but repeated pounding of everyday use is not what is best. On a race engine looking for every available HP and limited use titanium is awesome but on a everyday engine its not the best choice.

i was stateing static pressure, thats only the the presssure it takes to move the spring. the brittleness of titanium is desided by the grade. mild steel also has some brittleness to it, just like stainless. but the stock retainers wont hold the higher psi springs for long they are just too weak, i have heard of many stories on that subject.

 

[Jetpilot]

but the stock retainers wont hold the higher psi springs for long they are just too weak, i have heard of many stories on that subject.

Funny how stories are abound..... Truth is what works, and titanium for longevity on street motors is not the best choice. I hope you are willing to replace motors that are destroyed by parts that break. Truth is with the proper setup the stock OEM retainers are fine. We have used them on springs that are in excess of 3 times OEM seat and open pressures with no failures! I wouldn't run these springs now that there are much better options out there but it does show the strength of the stock retainer.

 

[jwilliams3]

Wade,

Are you sure your not referring to 12V trucks????



Often times people will tell a story without saying which kind of motor it was... .

 

[Diesel Power]

Wade,

Are you sure your not referring to 12V trucks????



Often times people will tell a story without saying which kind of motor it was... .

could be, but patty haisley told me that the stock retainer is not a good idea, street or not. i would imagine they should know

 

[jwilliams3]

She might have meant the 12V motors. Which Haisley does sell aftermarket valve train parts for.

As far as their website goes Haisley offers no HiPo 24V valve train products.



On the other site I did see where one guy almost lost a valve when one of the collett's let go (12V stock valve train). He actually caught it before it happend.

 

[Bob4x4]

Every performance head shop I have talked to over the years has advised against titanium retainers on street machines... ... ... . they don't last in that kind of environment. How many miles get put on a 1/4 miler between tear downs? Valvetrains are a top priority for regular inspections in the race scene.

The spring load at installed height is nothing compared to at full lift.



Bob

 

[Diesel Power]

patty just told me that she has many 12 valves daily driving, with titanium, and has for years---whats the difference?