Titanium Valve springs

[Aaron Keown]

We have run them in the past on some engines and our experience was identical to that of Mr. Merricks,they were great if you were on an unlimited budget and did'nt mind checking the springs after every pass.This was also quite some time ago say 90-95,so it is quite possible that there have been significant improvements in titanium sice then.

[Chris "drooze" Wertman]

Thanks for the info, after a couple days of research, I found out what I needed to know, when they fail, they fail catasrophicly.....breaking like a candy cane and leaving shards everywhere, the tension of a spring breaking in relation to steel is huge, and as a result the resulting teardown and rebuild equally as massive.

I was looking to save money in the long run if they were more durable, it dosent seem that they are in for the long haul in a stocker, if they cost $1800 a set and lasted all season without failure, and could help eliminate valve float at absurd RPM, its a no-brainer, but unfortunatley this isnt the case.

Im limited to beehives, and well single springs make me nervous for high revs......they just do....So I was looking for something maybe on the material side to help, and the engine Im running is prone to breaking them in just this scenario.

Thanks for the info guys you pointed me in the right direction.

Originally Posted by Aaron Keown

We have run them in the past on some engines and our experience was identical to that of Mr. Merricks,they were great if you were on an unlimited budget and did'nt mind checking the springs after every pass.This was also quite some time ago say 90-95,so it is quite possible that there have been significant improvements in titanium sice then.

[Aaron Keown]

Pac and Nextek are awfully good springs,if they offer something for your application then it is definitely worth looking in to.

[Mike Carr]

Gary, how about this eastern OH/western PA weather, huh? In the last 24 hours, temps in the mid fifties drop to wind chills of single digits, snow, hail, sun, rainbows, thunder, lightening.

On-topic, I didn't think titanium springs would be allowed in Stock. I would have thought that was one rule change not permitted?

[Chris "drooze" Wertman]

Oddly they are, I checked , confirmed and double checked (with the NHRA), since there is NO mention of allowed or disallowed material, its allowed......

Originally Posted by Mike Carr

On-topic, I didn't think titanium springs would be allowed in Stock. I would have thought that was one rule change not permitted?

[Gary Merrick]

Hey Mike,

You are correct about the weather. As usual, it SUCKS this time of year. I went to Cincinnati yesterday to pick up my son from U of C and the wind was really tough. It was like driving a B/ED at Indy in a 20 MPH cross wind when you get past the grand stands at half track. HANG-ON!!

Hey Aaron,

I appreciate the respect of Mr. Merrick, but racer to racer, please call me Gary. Even if I am old, bald, and fat, my Dad (rest his soul) was Mr. Merrick. <G>

As far as getting back to the topic, good luck with the valve springs.

Gary Merrick
3522 C/ED

[Jim Bailey]

I don't know of any Fuel Teams still using Titanium Valve Springs. On Jim Head's Car we found they were either good or bad, no in between. They either broke on the first run or they lasted a while, but we checked them every run, and they'd check ok, then break. We couldn't "see" them going away with loss of pressure. And with a nitro car - that's bad.
We use Manley Springs, as do many teams, of course I cryo and rem finish them. But seeing we ran the same springs all year without a broken one, that speaks for itself. And our installed pressure at the seat is around 600# and 900 - 1000# open. Pac Springs are the other spring of choice in Fuel. I've been told, Pac uses Cryo in its manufacturing process, therefore it's done when you buy them..(trade secret)...ha. JB

[trmnatr]

Originally Posted by Aaron Keown

Pac and Nextek are awfully good springs,if they offer something for your application then it is definitely worth looking in to.

Just some information, Erson FSP springs are the same as Manley NexTek. I would stick with Manley retainers for high rpm stuff (they fit better)

[Dave Ribeiro]

I would make sure I had a written letter signed by NHRA tech department on me at all times... How can you use titanium Valve springs, when YOU CAN"T use Titanium retainers or keepers in Stock class ??? Be careful.... Something doesn't sound right... Maybe it's a Mopar thing...

[Chris "drooze" Wertman]

That came specifically from Bruce Bachelder....he sounded a bit funny I didnt know the rule..I have been in contact with him about any major items, or ones that werent 100% clear.

His answer...Simple....it makes NO mention any longer of material on springs, hence anything can be used.

Retainers do metion material hence titanium cant be used.

Unfortunatley none of it matters....since then a Titanium spring fails it fails in major fashion.

I was looking to BUY reliability and rate on a single beehive, not a new set of worries and an unpredictable factor....its just one of those ideas that wont work well here.


Cheers

Chris

Originally Posted by Dave Ribeiro

I would make sure I had a written letter signed by NHRA tech department on me at all times... How can you use titanium Valve springs, when YOU CAN"T use Titanium retainers or keepers in Stock class ??? Be careful.... Something doesn't sound right... Maybe it's a Mopar thing...