Titanium Valves Allowed in S/S?

SSDiv6 · 09-16-2010, 09:36 AM

This craziness has to stop.

At the end, it is not worth the extreme cost for marginal gains.
First, unless they are Physical Vapor Deposition or Chromium Nitride coated, Titanium valves will wear at a faster rate than a SS valve.

Although they have OEM applications such as the Corvette and many motorcycles makes, the valves they use are coated and they use valve seats with a higher Copper contents. Which means, if they are allowed, all seats will need to be replaced with a seat with a higher Copper contents.

When NHRA allowed the use of Titanium valves on the 427 Fords, is due to the fact that at the time it was difficult to obtain hollow stem valves. Weight wise, the Titanium and hollow-stem valves are the same. Also, due to valve train dynamics, the RPM gains are not as much as many may believe.

Today, you can buy good hollow stem SS valves from companies such as Ferrea.
It also makes me wonder how many racers out there are using them.

If the rule change is approved, I can see racers, later on, asking the valve stem size rule be deleted so they can run 7mm valve stems.

09-16-2010, 09:36 AM	#11
SSDiv6 VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 3,042 Likes: 712 Liked 1,575 Times in 580 Posts	Re: Titanium Valves Allowed in S/S? This craziness has to stop. At the end, it is not worth the extreme cost for marginal gains. First, unless they are Physical Vapor Deposition or Chromium Nitride coated, Titanium valves will wear at a faster rate than a SS valve. Although they have OEM applications such as the Corvette and many motorcycles makes, the valves they use are coated and they use valve seats with a higher Copper contents. Which means, if they are allowed, all seats will need to be replaced with a seat with a higher Copper contents. When NHRA allowed the use of Titanium valves on the 427 Fords, is due to the fact that at the time it was difficult to obtain hollow stem valves. Weight wise, the Titanium and hollow-stem valves are the same. Also, due to valve train dynamics, the RPM gains are not as much as many may believe. Today, you can buy good hollow stem SS valves from companies such as Ferrea. It also makes me wonder how many racers out there are using them. If the rule change is approved, I can see racers, later on, asking the valve stem size rule be deleted so they can run 7mm valve stems.