I really do appreciate all the feedback guys - I actually called and left a message with Hardtop guy at his office yesterday and have not heard back from him as of yet!
I am thinking that another stock system is not the way to go - my logic is that if I am going to have to buy a new engine I might as well buy one that has been beefed up a little bit
I will talk to Joe about the possibility of using something other than the Ti retainers since I am getting the picture that these are not good for the long haul - I really don't want to have to worry about them failing - again, my purpose in considering one of his motors is durability and the strength to handle some boost!

Warpspeed (Jim) It happened on the Beeline on my way home from the coast on Monday Morning and while I was driving on Cruise It hesitated slightly and it had never done that so I pulled over checked my fluids and continued on and about 10 miles further It hesitated again while on Cruise control at 70 and this time I heard what sounded like tapping and I immediately shut it down and coasted to the shoulder and called AAA and it was towed to the shop where it sits.

 

I would ask Joe about the Ti retainers. My guess is he will say they are better than the steel ones from Honda. I personally think it is a bunch of BS that they won't last. Has anyone on this board have a Ti retainer fail? I won't bother to ask the same question about the stock retainers, because I know the answer. There have been quite a few failures.

 

Fperra, Thanks for bringing this up! I have different information about the Ti vs Stock - Perhaps nobody has had the Ti retainers in long enough to really say whether that are better than stock for longevity!

 

Let us know what Joe's opinion on the subject is.

 

The idea that Ti retainers aren't good for a street engine/need to be replaced often is a myth.

I've been playing with high revving Honda engines for nearly 10 years now and the vast majority of heavily modified cars have had Ti retainers. I had them on my personal street B-series engine for over 30k miles with nary a problem (and we had the head off a couple of times to inspect things) and I know a number of customers that have put far more mileage on them. Even the high rpm (10k+) drag race motors out there run them and the Ti retainers are a part that rarely get replaced - because they don't fail.

Its not something I'd worry about.

UL

 

I can't thank you guys enough for the help and information - I rarely ask for help and am usually the one helping so It's nice to see you guys sharing your expertise! Again, Thanks!
I feel pretty confident that Joe's Ti retainers are the way to go!

Now if I could only figure out what would be the best compression ratio for around 9 - 11 psi of boost from my Comptech blower?

 

I'd be interested to hear your information on them.
I have heard 20-30miles overhaul on Ti ret.

 

I think its a case of you get what you pay for. Like everything, you can spend the money and buy quality or you can save in the short term and buy junk.

 

I can't find the thread but Billman250 had some good photos of stock cracked retainers - I don't recall if they were caused by over-revs or just lucky finds while he was working on the cars!
A little off track but good information

 

I would venture an opinion.

Since you are running a Comptech SC you will only see the max boost at virtually max rpms. If you are not going past 10-11 pounds at peak rpm then the 10.0:1 cr would give more hp than a lower ratio and run stronger if tuned properly.

If you might go above that 10-11 lbs boost in the future then I suggest you go with the 9.5:1.

I'm currently in uncharted territory running about 10.3:1 cr and over 10 lbs boost.