Titanium Valves

Are Titanium Valves a good buy for street Motors?

I wouldnt spend the money on them for a street motor

kzz1p wrote:

Are Titanium Valves a good buy for street Motors?

Did you ever price out a set? you can get a whole set of stainless valves for the price of one Ty valve.

otakar wrote:

kzz1p wrote:

Are Titanium Valves a good buy for street Motors?

Did you ever price out a set?

not for a KZ, but they are about 100.00 each higher in the race motors we run

No they are not a good choice for street use. plus they are EXPENSIVE!

DFIGPZ wrote:

No they are not a good choice for street use. plus they are EXPENSIVE!

Besides money, why aren't they a good choice?

Titanium valves are not as durable as steel. They're main advantage in a race motor is light weight for high rpm use. I believe that the valve train is not the limiting factor to the red-line on a KZ motor. It's the roller bearings on the crankshaft.

testarossa wrote:

Titanium valves are not as durable as steel. They're main advantage in a race motor is light weight for high rpm use. I believe that the valve train is not the limiting factor to the red-line on a KZ motor. It's the roller bearings on the crankshaft.

The Z06 & ZR1 Corvettes come with titanium valves, from the factory. GM says they will go 100,000 miles, with a warranty! Titanium valves will increase the RPM range 400-600 RPM's.

Every japanese motorcycle or atv motor I've ever taken apart with Ti valves......they were shot. Honda has a major issue with their Ti valves on 250cc dirt motors.

Unless you rev the motor sersiously high, you don't need them.

kzz1p wrote:

testarossa wrote:

Titanium valves are not as durable as steel. They're main advantage in a race motor is light weight for high rpm use. I believe that the valve train is not the limiting factor to the red-line on a KZ motor. It's the roller bearings on the crankshaft.

The Z06 & ZR1 Corvettes come with titanium valves, from the factory. GM says they will go 100,000 miles, with a warranty! Titanium valves will increase the RPM range 400-600 RPM's.

on a water cooled engine that has been evolving since its introduction since 1955,with billions of research money to spend in the process! :laugh: i dont know about anybody else but i can think of other things that would improve a z street motor long before ever reaching the point of needing fancy valves,like a decent cylinder head with a reliable efi system

kzz1p wrote:

testarossa wrote:

Titanium valves are not as durable as steel. They're main advantage in a race motor is light weight for high rpm use. I believe that the valve train is not the limiting factor to the red-line on a KZ motor. It's the roller bearings on the crankshaft.

The Z06 & ZR1 Corvettes come with titanium valves, from the factory. GM says they will go 100,000 miles, with a warranty! Titanium valves will increase the RPM range 400-600 RPM's.

I think that this is an apples to oranges comparison. As PLUMMEN states the GM small block is a well proven, water cooled automotive engine. First and foremost, I believe that the great majority of Z06 and ZR1 vettes will use up the warranty on time long before they get to the 100,000 mile mark. You have to look at their target customer. The average vette just won't get that many miles. I think that GM is calculating their risk on these two models.

Number two, the redline on the ZR1 is listed at 6500 rpm and the Z06 is listed at 7000 rpm. Therefore the valves are closing at quite a bit slower speed than if they were running 9500 rpm like a motorcycle.

Finally, those valves in a corvette engine are substantially larger than a KZ intake valve. The weight penalty for steel is much greater with a more massive valve. I just don't see enough of an advantage to justify the cost on a street driven motorcycle. If you were racing, then I say go Ti.

As an aside, in my experience as a machinist, I have had a lot of opportunity to machine titanium and just about any alloy of steel. People like to attribute all kinds of magical properties to titanium. It is wonderful for use in situations that need to be light and strong. It is almost as strong as steel and almost as light as aluminum. The stuff is not nearly as wear resistant as heat treated steel. The thing that makes Ti parts so expensive, is that the stuff is a pain in the ass to machine. It wears cutting tools rapidly because it doesn't transfer heat very well. This concentrates heat in the area of the cut. It also is fairly abrasive, which will quickly dull a cutting edge. Steel is common, boring, cheap, and often times is the best choice for for machined parts like intake valves. Steel is real.

HT8R wrote:

I think your street motor if you want it to live needs certain professional advice. Unless you plan riding your bike off road. I would still contact Jay. He has a proven record and an extensive following. No worries.

With titanium the valve train will last longer. The valve springs, cams, cam followers & the cam chain. The motor will run more stable and rev quicker.