TFS Valve Retainers: Need Help

ChunkFunky · 02-22-2003, 08:18 PM

OK, I bought my twisted wedge heads used from a some guy and he told me they needed springs, and that's fine, I received the heads and they are in great shape, but he had dissassembled them and he sent me all the parts, the valves, and retainers, though no locks... but whatever, that's easy enough to get... though in the box were 16 retainer looking things... though 8 of one type and 8 of another.. did TFS used different retainers for the intake and exhaust valves. Though these things seems odd to me, they dont look like retainers the way I'd think of them. can you guys let me know what these peices I have ARE... I've never actualy taken heads apart or put them together, I assumed it'd be easy enough but these parts confuse me.

the top row is the one type, bottom and top and the bottom row, is bottom and top of the other type, plus a little insert alone and inserted into the larger peice.

thanx guys

Tamer · 02-22-2003, 10:00 PM

Sorry dude but my twisted wedge heads didnt look like those retainers as far as I can remember. they look just like the stock ones do. Intake and exhaust. the rotating ones are exhaust because when you get carbon buildup around the valve seat it will leak and burn the valves so they put a rotating retainer so that it will also clean the seat as it opens and closes

ChunkFunky · 02-23-2003, 07:55 AM

so you mean the tops ones are the exhaust retainers?
I guess another question I have is... can I just reuse STOCK retainers and locks on teh TFS springs and valves?

-as

ChunkFunky · 02-24-2003, 11:39 AM

I've pretty much determined that these arent retainers... unless its some wierd type Im not familiar with... but my question is.. what the heck are they?
-as

mike72678 · 02-24-2003, 11:22 PM

the exhaust retainer is designed to rotate , so whichever one feels like it can spin is the exhaust retainer , it looks like the top one to me .

Technick · 02-25-2003, 01:36 AM

These are the STOCK retainers for a STOCK 5.0 cylinder head. They should NOT!!! be used on a TFS head. They were just barely good enough for a STOCK application. Not to be used in a real performance setting. Not to be used with a spring that is stiffer than a STOCK spring. DO NOT USE!!! Call Trick Flow or get a hold of a vender of Trick Flow cylinder heads and they will get you the right retainer for your application.

ChunkFunky · 02-25-2003, 07:41 AM

Those in the picture are stock retainers? fair enough, i was going to order a new set of retainers and locks anyway since these didnt look right.. but I didnt think they were even stock retainers..
-as

Technick · 02-25-2003, 10:19 PM

It would be interesting to forward those pic's of the retainers to Trick Flow just to see what they say. As it is you should get a hold of Trick Flow anyway just be be sure that what you get is right for your application, after all they would make the right stuff for their own heads.
If you ever get a chance to pop a valve cover off of a stock 86-95 5.0 Mustang you will see that the valve spring retainers are exactly as the pic's that you have. I know I have worked on literaly hundred's of 5.0's from stock to modifing them for ultra high H.P. drag engines.

02-22-2003, 08:18 PM	#1
ChunkFunky Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Tustin, CA Posts: 465	TFS Valve Retainers: Need Help OK, I bought my twisted wedge heads used from a some guy and he told me they needed springs, and that's fine, I received the heads and they are in great shape, but he had dissassembled them and he sent me all the parts, the valves, and retainers, though no locks... but whatever, that's easy enough to get... though in the box were 16 retainer looking things... though 8 of one type and 8 of another.. did TFS used different retainers for the intake and exhaust valves. Though these things seems odd to me, they dont look like retainers the way I'd think of them. can you guys let me know what these peices I have ARE... I've never actualy taken heads apart or put them together, I assumed it'd be easy enough but these parts confuse me. the top row is the one type, bottom and top and the bottom row, is bottom and top of the other type, plus a little insert alone and inserted into the larger peice. thanx guys __________________ '89 GT Convertible: TFS TW Heads, TFS Street Intake, TFS Stage 1 Cam, FMS 1.6 RRs, 24# Injectors, Pro-M 75mm MAF, No Name CAI, 3.73s, O/R H-Pipe, FlowMasters, AOD w/ Trans-Go Shift Kit

02-23-2003, 07:55 AM	#3
ChunkFunky Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Tustin, CA Posts: 465	so you mean the tops ones are the exhaust retainers? I guess another question I have is... can I just reuse STOCK retainers and locks on teh TFS springs and valves? -as __________________ '89 GT Convertible: TFS TW Heads, TFS Street Intake, TFS Stage 1 Cam, FMS 1.6 RRs, 24# Injectors, Pro-M 75mm MAF, No Name CAI, 3.73s, O/R H-Pipe, FlowMasters, AOD w/ Trans-Go Shift Kit Last edited by ChunkFunky; 02-23-2003 at 06:40 PM..

02-24-2003, 11:39 AM	#4
ChunkFunky Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Tustin, CA Posts: 465	I've pretty much determined that these arent retainers... unless its some wierd type Im not familiar with... but my question is.. what the heck are they? -as __________________ '89 GT Convertible: TFS TW Heads, TFS Street Intake, TFS Stage 1 Cam, FMS 1.6 RRs, 24# Injectors, Pro-M 75mm MAF, No Name CAI, 3.73s, O/R H-Pipe, FlowMasters, AOD w/ Trans-Go Shift Kit

02-25-2003, 01:36 AM	#6
Technick Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Seattle, Wa. Posts: 175	These are the STOCK retainers for a STOCK 5.0 cylinder head. They should NOT!!! be used on a TFS head. They were just barely good enough for a STOCK application. Not to be used in a real performance setting. Not to be used with a spring that is stiffer than a STOCK spring. DO NOT USE!!! Call Trick Flow or get a hold of a vender of Trick Flow cylinder heads and they will get you the right retainer for your application. __________________ No matter how much you spend, or how much you prepare, there is ALWAYS someone else faster or quicker than YOU!!!!!!!!!!

02-25-2003, 07:41 AM	#7
ChunkFunky Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Tustin, CA Posts: 465	Those in the picture are stock retainers? fair enough, i was going to order a new set of retainers and locks anyway since these didnt look right.. but I didnt think they were even stock retainers.. -as __________________ '89 GT Convertible: TFS TW Heads, TFS Street Intake, TFS Stage 1 Cam, FMS 1.6 RRs, 24# Injectors, Pro-M 75mm MAF, No Name CAI, 3.73s, O/R H-Pipe, FlowMasters, AOD w/ Trans-Go Shift Kit

02-22-2003, 10:00 PM	#2
Tamer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Surrey, BC, Canada Posts: 19	Sorry dude but my twisted wedge heads didnt look like those retainers as far as I can remember. they look just like the stock ones do. Intake and exhaust. the rotating ones are exhaust because when you get carbon buildup around the valve seat it will leak and burn the valves so they put a rotating retainer so that it will also clean the seat as it opens and closes

02-24-2003, 11:22 PM	#5
mike72678 MW Link Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: rochester , ny Posts: 79	the exhaust retainer is designed to rotate , so whichever one feels like it can spin is the exhaust retainer , it looks like the top one to me .

02-25-2003, 10:19 PM	#8
Technick Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Seattle, Wa. Posts: 175	It would be interesting to forward those pic's of the retainers to Trick Flow just to see what they say. As it is you should get a hold of Trick Flow anyway just be be sure that what you get is right for your application, after all they would make the right stuff for their own heads. If you ever get a chance to pop a valve cover off of a stock 86-95 5.0 Mustang you will see that the valve spring retainers are exactly as the pic's that you have. I know I have worked on literaly hundred's of 5.0's from stock to modifing them for ultra high H.P. drag engines. __________________ No matter how much you spend, or how much you prepare, there is ALWAYS someone else faster or quicker than YOU!!!!!!!!!!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Valve tap!!	SmokinStangGT	Windsor Power	1	07-31-2003 03:42 AM
valve problem	pearlgt40 306	Windsor Power	3	07-05-2003 01:21 AM
Please help before 10am today. VALVE SPRING RETAINERS!!!	89FHPLX	Windsor Power	3	07-05-2002 10:14 AM
Proportioning Valve	MidniteWrider	Classic Mustangs	1	07-11-2001 09:14 AM
PCV Valve what the ?@#$@#$@$	Chevyguy	Windsor Power	3	04-11-2001 08:01 PM