So I can understand this better, was all of this damage caused primarily by the failing retainers? Meaning, if AP2 retainers were likely swapped in, this could have been avoided?

 

No it was caused by someone not knowing how to drive and mis-shifting to 9700 rpms + . It was likely done by a previous owner (otherwise he would have remembered mis-shifting and checked this earlier), and the ap2 retainers would have needed to go in a while back.

 

I've got a nice complete ap1 head for sale, it has 8 new Honda exhaust valves, ap2 retainers and ap2 springs, and new valve seals. Shipping might be expensive though ?

 

So a compression or leak down wouldn't have revealed this?

 

Nope. A visual inspection is easy to do.

 

These cars can take a lot of abuse as long as you do it gently. AP1 retainers are good for the life of the vehicle if you treat it right. When retainers crack it's usually the mis shift from 5th to 2nd that does it. Also bouncing off the rev limiter a lot seems to stress the retainers as well. I'm not saying the retainers are bad it's just that you have to be on point with your driving if you want to avoid damaging this, or any other part on this car.

To get the most out of these cars you have to be very smooth and deliberate with your actions, any carelessness gets punished. If you drive them right they have absolutely zero understeer, you just have to break early enough so you can always be on the throttle and have good throttle control. If you maintain them properly they will last a good amount, but any carelessness can have grave repercussions.

 

Holy crap. I completely didn't look at that cam lobe. Nice find.
Question of curiosity, would the OP be able to polish that lobe and be ok? Or is that too far gone to where polishing would put the lobe length out of spec?

 

No that camshaft is damaged and needs to be replaced.

In my automotive experience any damage on a camshaft that can be felt needs (by finger tip or nail) to be replaced.

 

This is making me paranoid, I'm going to check mine today.

 

The OP has to ask himself ONE question: HOW the F did this happen?

If there is truely no history of an overrev there is more work ahead than swapping cams and retainers.