1 reply to this topic

[Ryland]

I still have plans to rebuild my CRX engine, life is just buissy (if only I could get out of working, sleeping, and seeing some girl) and the idea of reducing the weight of all those little moving parts is very appealing, but what's out there for a 20 year old honda? I know for newer hondas you can get sweet sounding things like Titanum valve springs/retainers, and I suspect other parts of the valve train, an easy bit of weight could even be saved with Titanum nuts on the rocker arms, right? or are the rocker arms ballenced... part of making it better is not doing things that make it brake sooner.
What about those of us who want to keep stock cam timing, can we replace the cast iron cam sprocket with an alloy one without going to an adjustable one? (why not get offset keys to adjust your cam timing?) replace as many of the nuts and bolts on moving parts with titanum, I've read that you shouldn't replace things like the nuts on the lower end of your connecting rods with Ti, as the threds are not strong enough, but lower stress parts it seems like it would make sense.
when I rebuild a motorcycle I find replacing alot of the faseners with some Stainless steel, but mostly cro-moly, to both dress it up a bit, and reduce the number of broken faseners I have from trying to reach proper tourq.

[c25ahatch]

What about those of us who want to keep stock cam timing, can we replace the cast iron cam sprocket with an alloy one without going to an adjustable one?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You could just use adjustables and not adjust them.

I find replacing alot of the faseners with some Stainless steel, but mostly cro-moly, to both dress it up a bit, and reduce the number of broken faseners I have from trying to reach proper tourq.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If you reach proper torque, you should not be breaking any fasteners unless they are defective or damaged in some way. That is what torque specifications are for.

Generally, I think the minor gain you would see versus the headache and expense of finding Ti fasteners would probably not be worth it over all. I would suggest reducing friction in the engine by having dry film lubrication applied to various moving parts instead. Not only should it theoretically free up a few horsepower, it should greatly extend the service life of the components. I had this done to the internals of the transaxle in my track car, and was so impressed with the change in feel I had all the parts in the new engine done as well.

For some information on this coating (along with various other ceramic coatings) check out Performance Coatings webpage. They are here in Washington state, but a similiar service is probably availible in most states.