Be leery of stock AP1 retainers
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 180
Likes: 1
From: Dela-ware?
For what ever reason, a near 10,000 rpm over rev + 2000 miles of driving showed not even the slightest sign of damage that I could find anywhere. I would not let that deter someone from being on the safe side, and this is a great writeup for replacing the retainers, just wanted to throw that out there for those that have an overrev it is not a cause for IMMEDIATE panic, but you should still do your due diligence to make sure the car is ok.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,555
Likes: 2
From: greenville sc
I pulled the valve cover on a customers ride last thursday and found 5 broken retainers on the intake side. Car is NA 01 with 69k miles. It started running bad and skipping on number 1 and 3. The exhaust side looked just fine, but the intake side was trashed. He is the second owner of this car and doesn't know the full history. He's very lucky though, i'm amazed it didn't drop a valve. It was very close. I would recommend every ap1 owner pull there valve cover and check the retainers every so often. I suspect this car has been heavily abused, but who really knows. Ap2 retainers and keepers are on the way for it.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 24,119
Likes: 4
From: Seattle / Kalifornia
5 Retainers, wow.
That says a lot about how big of an issue this is. I certainly wouldn't downplay such a fatal problem. It's not like we're talking about a small failure if it does happen.
That says a lot about how big of an issue this is. I certainly wouldn't downplay such a fatal problem. It's not like we're talking about a small failure if it does happen.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,555
Likes: 2
From: greenville sc
I did another 2001 today, this one was na also. Right at 70k miles. Started misfiring and idle was terrible. Found 7 broken retainers on the intake side. I took a few pics of the damage and of the part numbers of the ap2 replacements. If you own an Ap1 your crazy if you don't change these out. Again this guy was VERY lucky to not have dropped a valve. The retainers were actually rubbing the rocker arms and holding the valves open just a bit. Heres some pics. You can see the ap2 repaired one on the left verses the ap1 broken on the right.
Part numbers of ap2 retainers and keepers. 
Cylinder numbers 3 and 4 
Cylinder number 2 
Part numbers of ap2 retainers and keepers. Cylinder numbers 3 and 4 Cylinder number 2
And finally number 1. 
. This car has been beaten on like a mexican hooker, but as you can see it is a problem. Stock ap1 guys, rev with caution.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,555
Likes: 2
From: greenville sc
My linkI picked up this little beauty on ebay. Makes changing springs on a f20 or k20 a cakewalk. Its designed to work with the intake off so you have to grind about a 1/16 of the back for clearance. Works great though, and a quality tool. Here's the link to the seller.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 388
Likes: 1
It was a two man job when I did my springs and retainers. I have the valve keeper remover and installer tool $30 posted on the first page and the KD spring compressor tool $30. They both sucked at getting the job done. The learning curve was steep to figure how to put it on correctly. I was sore at the end of the day!
I'm getting the tool form Kings Performance just to have around for if and when I need to change my titanium retainers...
Here's ebay link to Kings Performance's tool. They also have at their website.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/KP-Valve-Spr...c640f3&vxp=mtr
I'm getting the tool form Kings Performance just to have around for if and when I need to change my titanium retainers...
Here's ebay link to Kings Performance's tool. They also have at their website.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/KP-Valve-Spr...c640f3&vxp=mtr