So figured before I take the car out for the season I do some major maint. and other various checks.
Here are the pictures of the retainers, should I be changing now, or do they look ok still. I keep going back and forth on what I think lol.
Lots of pictures, tried getting good angles but its rough with the cams on.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/96763903@N07/13297241914/http://www.flickr.com/photos/96763903@N07/13297241914/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/96763903@N07/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/96763903@N07/13297031633/http://www.flickr.com/photos/96763903@N07/13297031633/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/96763903@N07/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/96763903@N07/13296885065/http://www.flickr.com/photos/96763903@N07/13296885065/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/96763903@N07/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/96763903@N07/13296964645/http://www.flickr.com/photos/96763903@N07/13296964645/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/96763903@N07/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/96763903@N07/13297123353/http://www.flickr.com/photos/96763903@N07/13297123353/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/96763903@N07/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/96763903@N07/13297339454/http://www.flickr.com/photos/96763903@N07/13297339454/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/96763903@N07/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/96763903@N07/13297119303/http://www.flickr.com/photos/96763903@N07/13297119303/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/96763903@N07/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/96763903@N07/13297117323/http://www.flickr.com/photos/96763903@N07/13297117323/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/96763903@N07/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/96763903@N07/13297332604/http://www.flickr.com/photos/96763903@N07/13297332604/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/96763903@N07/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/96763903@N07/13297331234/http://www.flickr.com/photos/96763903@N07/13297331234/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/96763903@N07/, on Flickr
also the seal broke when removing the valve cover
http://www.flickr.com/photos/96763903@N07/13297153783/http://www.flickr.com/photos/96763903@N07/13297153783/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/96763903@N07/, on Flickr

Will update this thread as the project moves along.

 

Hard to tell from the pictures, but the first one looks fine, no telling on the other pics without a closer examination.

The exhaust retainers won't need replacing as it is only the intake retainers that crack.

The retainers only crack if the engine was mis-shifted to approx. 9700 rpms at some point in the past. If your engine wasn't mis-shifted ap1 retainers can last the life of the engine. Ap1 retainers are not defective parts, they just crack if abused beyond their intended use.

You can replace them for added peace of mind, or if you are going to have the engine apart for some other work and you want added insurance for the future. It's up to you.

 

If you can take them off an inspect both sides and they are fine then I wouldn't. If they are ok, then I wouldn't lose sleep over it.

 

They look fine. Wouldn't lose sleep over. If you're not sure it's always better to just replace them with ap2 retainers right away but that's so much work for something that isn't messed up

 

Im thinking when it warms up and Im up for a longer project Ill replace with AP2 retainers for that piece of mind.

 

I think I've read that once you can see a crack in an AP1 retainer that you really only have like 150-250 miles before kablooey.
Personally, I would change them out right now for AP2 retainers, but that's just me and my anal peice of mind talking because frankly, I'm not the best driver in the world
Definitely upgrade to AP2 retainers at least on the intake side if you're going to change them - much more durable.

JFUSION is on point though; AP1 retainers are fully functional and just fine. But if you can see yourself mis-shifting at high rpm's (mechanical over-rev) then you can overshoot the tolerance of the AP1 retainers more easily than the AP2's. The AP2's can take a little more 'true abuse.'

 

You can't tell just by looking at the top, you can use a little mirror to look at the underside of the retainer as that's where the cracks happen. You could have cracked retainers that look perfectly fine .

 

Seems like you have time might as well replace valve stem seals as well.
The job is not that big of a deal at this point Your half way there.

I'm glad I did mine even though none of mine had cracks.

 

I would also change ratainers as well. You are halfway there and if you follow the link in my signature you will find a link to the DIY.

 

Just wondering what kind of mirror you are using to allow you to do this