Titanium valve check...

charlie westcott · 09-04-2022, 01:35 PM

Fyi to anyone that thinks they can get away with Ti valves, they figured out how to check for that now. Very simple test. Measure the displacement of the valve, figure the mass based on steel, wham bam.
I am glad that they came up with this method. Pretty basic. One NHRA guy told me that the only way to check was to put it on a valve grinder and see what kind of sparks it throws.
That might upset a racer.
Its too bad they dont have time or maybe the manpower to do more teardowns. Its what always made Indy relevant in my mind.
I only know 2 cars they checked, which were the hemis, that believe it or not had steel valves.
If we can run those engines as high as we do with steel, anyone that thinks they need Ti might want to research cam suppliers, I know a guy..
thanks
cw

Ralph A Powell · 09-04-2022, 01:43 PM

Anyone tech crew that can calculate that?

mtkawboy · 09-04-2022, 02:28 PM

I dont claim to be an expert but couldnt you check the valves with a magnet ?

Andy Friar · 09-04-2022, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtkawboy

I dont claim to be an expert but couldnt you check the valves with a magnet ?

Not if it certain grades of stainless.

Jim Caughlin · 09-04-2022, 05:45 PM

I run Ti valves is a Modifed motor and I will say it was the cheapest investment I have made. Disregarding the weight issue, considering the tight valve to piston clearance when trying to maximize CR, the slightest touch and a stainless valve gets bent. I have hit pistons to the point denting them with a Ti valve and they stayed straight. They are the next best thing to rubber when it comes to accidental contacting of a piston. I have a box full of bent stainless valves, no bent Ti valves.

SSDiv6 · 09-04-2022, 06:41 PM

316 series stainless is non-magnetic, and 400 series is slightly magnetic. The only time you may have a magnet adhere to a Stainless or Titanium valve is when they have hardened tips installed and it will be the only area of the valve the magnet will adhere to.

Only a handful of OEM and paper engines have Titanium valves. In Super Stock class, if the OEM valves were Sodium filled, they may be replaced with Titanium if the weight is equal to or greater than the original.

You can still pick up power by running hollow stem Stainless valves.

SSDiv6 · 09-04-2022, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ralph A Powell

Anyone tech crew that can calculate that?

Great question!
300 and 400 series Stainless steel has a vast difference in the percentage of Chromium. 300 series also has Nickel, and Molybdenum while the 400 series does not. Therefore, they have different weight densities. In addition, how do they account for weight variations for hollow stem valves based on the length of the valve?

dwydendorf · 09-04-2022, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSDiv6

In addition, how do they account for weight variations for hollow stem valves based on the length of the valve?

The tech guys could sonic check for hollow stems, they allready have a sonic checker for cage thickness.

Rick J · 09-05-2022, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwydendorf

The tech guys could sonic check for hollow stems, they allready have a sonic checker for cage thickness.

Hollow stem steel valves are legal.

dwydendorf · 09-05-2022, 02:52 PM

I know they are legal, just mentioned that they could use the sonic checker to determine the mass lost by drilling the stems out.

09-04-2022, 01:35 PM	#1
charlie westcott Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 131 Likes: 0 Liked 216 Times in 7 Posts	Titanium valve check... Fyi to anyone that thinks they can get away with Ti valves, they figured out how to check for that now. Very simple test. Measure the displacement of the valve, figure the mass based on steel, wham bam. I am glad that they came up with this method. Pretty basic. One NHRA guy told me that the only way to check was to put it on a valve grinder and see what kind of sparks it throws. That might upset a racer. Its too bad they dont have time or maybe the manpower to do more teardowns. Its what always made Indy relevant in my mind. I only know 2 cars they checked, which were the hemis, that believe it or not had steel valves. If we can run those engines as high as we do with steel, anyone that thinks they need Ti might want to research cam suppliers, I know a guy.. thanks cw

09-04-2022, 01:43 PM	#2
Ralph A Powell Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Bay City Texas Posts: 385 Likes: 2 Liked 225 Times in 136 Posts	Re: Titanium valve check... Anyone tech crew that can calculate that?

09-04-2022, 02:28 PM	#3
mtkawboy Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Billings Mt Posts: 280 Likes: 168 Liked 54 Times in 18 Posts	Re: Titanium valve check... I dont claim to be an expert but couldnt you check the valves with a magnet ?

09-04-2022, 05:45 PM	#5
Jim Caughlin Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Woodburn, Or Posts: 674 Likes: 77 Liked 768 Times in 235 Posts	Re: Titanium valve check... I run Ti valves is a Modifed motor and I will say it was the cheapest investment I have made. Disregarding the weight issue, considering the tight valve to piston clearance when trying to maximize CR, the slightest touch and a stainless valve gets bent. I have hit pistons to the point denting them with a Ti valve and they stayed straight. They are the next best thing to rubber when it comes to accidental contacting of a piston. I have a box full of bent stainless valves, no bent Ti valves.

09-04-2022, 06:41 PM	#6
SSDiv6 VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 3,023 Likes: 706 Liked 1,514 Times in 563 Posts	Re: Titanium valve check... 316 series stainless is non-magnetic, and 400 series is slightly magnetic. The only time you may have a magnet adhere to a Stainless or Titanium valve is when they have hardened tips installed and it will be the only area of the valve the magnet will adhere to. Only a handful of OEM and paper engines have Titanium valves. In Super Stock class, if the OEM valves were Sodium filled, they may be replaced with Titanium if the weight is equal to or greater than the original. You can still pick up power by running hollow stem Stainless valves.

09-05-2022, 02:52 PM	#10
dwydendorf Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: michigan Posts: 162 Likes: 251 Liked 19 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Titanium valve check... I know they are legal, just mentioned that they could use the sonic checker to determine the mass lost by drilling the stems out. __________________ ss/gt 93 t-bird