first vtec

Hi everyone this is my first post. Ive owned my s2000 now almost 2 years now it is my first honda and have never posted anything, but I have used a lot of info from this forum so thanks to everyone that has done write ups and diagnostics (the many ticking sounds from our engines). I bought my car stock and have slowly been upgrading it piece by piece. One of the first things I did is upgrade to titanium retainers and dual valve springs. and this is my problem. my titanum retainer shattered on the outside and the large outer spring came lose. luckly i had the dual springs or else my valve would have fallen in the motor. I now have a destroyed camshaft,rocker arm, and spring and retainer. I dropped the oil pan to clean out pieces of metal and to get a overall inspection of my motor cause it now has 180,000 miles. I found a little brass ring in the bottom of the pan and dont know where it came from. is this someing else coming apart? I just dont know where is came from or what it would go to. I plan to upgrade the oil jet bolts while i have the pan down and put in baffle kit. I also would like to know if theres any other improvements I should make ive tried to tackle problem things with these motors.

Billman250

Titanium retainers are not an upgrade.

If you want it to stay together, use factory ap2 retainers and keepers.

windhund116

" My titanium retainer shattered on the outside and the large outer spring came loose. "

Can I ask when did the retainers shatter? Over-revving or at sub-redline R's? Was the car on the track or road?


Thanks!

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first vtec

It started making a squeaking sound for about 3 days or so. It went away for a couple months and then it started again recently and again couldn't tell where it was coming from. Then I took it out for a nice day and hit 9k a lot when I got to the stop light it started making this loud ticking I thought I had just scored #4 piston but when I got home I tore it all apart and that's what happened. Ive only had them in for 20k or so. I put them in adjusted the valves drove it for 1500 miles let the springs seat and the. Readjusted the valves thought I did everything perfect not sure why it failed

first vtec

Also I was looking at going with after market cams since one got ruined. Which ones would you guys recommend with factory ecu for right now. I was looking at the Brian cower stage 2 but wasn't sure if it would run ok for a few months until I get a aem ems.

zeroptzero

I can't think of any specific part like that in the engine unless the rocker arms have small shims or washers within them. Stay away from Ti retainers if you don't want to be replacing them on a regular basis, they work well to assist with high rpm use but they should be considered as wearable parts that are not meant for long term use. There are plenty of defective aftermarket retainers out there as well, hence the recommendation to use Honda parts.

Slowcrash_101

Were your springs and retainers the same brand and a matched set?

first vtec

Yes super tech