Valve Spring Removal with Heads in Place? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Frizzle Fry · 10-01-2006, 11:50 AM

I picked up a few parts to do a little "bolt-on" improvement to my 396. I got a cam, intake, carb, springs, lifters, pushrods, timing set, and water pump.

The problem I'm running into is changing the springs with the heads in place. I planned to use the air-compressor connected to the sparkplug port to hold the valves up, and a lever-bar from the rocker studs to "pop" the retainers/inserts loose. Well, the valves just open when I apply pressure with the bar. I think I'm running about 90 psi on the compressor, so I'll try more pressure, but if that doesn't work, I think I'm stuck.

I did'nt want to remove the heads, but I suppose I could. The question is; are there any other ways to change the springs with the heads in place? And/or should I just remove the heads to do it or simply use the old springs?

QKENUF4U · 10-01-2006, 12:47 PM

http://www.mytoolstore.com/kd/kdengi13.html

5th one down is the one for you.

qksilver · 10-01-2006, 12:58 PM

Take a brass hammer and lightly hit the the top side of the valve springs. Sometimes the keepers will stick to the valve spring retainers. The 2 small parts that fit around the top of the valve stem holding down the flat circle part that fir on top of the springs. Tap it a few times and usually it will be enough to loosen their grip. Then procede as you were.
Worse comes to worse push rope into the cylinder then rotate the engine slowly to take up slack. That will also hold the valves and keep them from dropping

Longhorn Man · 10-01-2006, 01:12 PM

I've seen ppl remove the plug, and insert a long rope in the cylinder (leaving one end hanging out) and then turn the engine to where the rope is compressed against the valves.

larry may · 10-01-2006, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

I've seen ppl remove the plug, and insert a long rope in the cylinder (leaving one end hanging out) and then turn the engine to where the rope is compressed against the valves.

This works real well , used it a few times........

**Palf70Step** · 10-01-2006, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

I've seen ppl remove the plug, and insert a long rope in the cylinder (leaving one end hanging out) and then turn the engine to where the rope is compressed against the valves.

Ditto.

Frizzle Fry · 10-01-2006, 04:07 PM

Cool, thanks guys. I'll give it a shot and report back...

japi69 · 10-01-2006, 05:55 PM

Ditto2

Frizzle Fry · 10-02-2006, 05:15 PM

Alright, here's what I ended up doing:

Increase air pressure to 160 psi
Remove rockers
Pressurize cylinder
Rap on retainers (int/exh for that cylinder) all the way around the circumference of the retainer until it breaks loose from the keepers. The sound clearly changes when they break loose.
Now the lever-bar on the rocker stud works like a champ

I have the whole pass side done. Eight more to go...

Thanks again guys. I bet the rope deal works just as well or even better for a really stubborn keeper/retainer.

68GenIII · 10-02-2006, 05:19 PM

If they arent real stubborn you can use the TDC method as well. Rotate the motor until the piston is up, change one cylinder then move to the other TDC cylinder. Careful not to bend your valves

10-01-2006, 11:50 AM	#1
Frizzle Fry Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hillsboro Oregon Posts: 6,449	Valve Spring Removal with Heads in Place? I picked up a few parts to do a little "bolt-on" improvement to my 396. I got a cam, intake, carb, springs, lifters, pushrods, timing set, and water pump. The problem I'm running into is changing the springs with the heads in place. I planned to use the air-compressor connected to the sparkplug port to hold the valves up, and a lever-bar from the rocker studs to "pop" the retainers/inserts loose. Well, the valves just open when I apply pressure with the bar. I think I'm running about 90 psi on the compressor, so I'll try more pressure, but if that doesn't work, I think I'm stuck. I did'nt want to remove the heads, but I suppose I could. The question is; are there any other ways to change the springs with the heads in place? And/or should I just remove the heads to do it or simply use the old springs?

10-01-2006, 12:47 PM	#2
QKENUF4U Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: SUNNY WARM BIKE RIDING COTTONWOOD ARIZONA Posts: 2,097	Re: Valve Spring Removal with Heads in Place? http://www.mytoolstore.com/kd/kdengi13.html 5th one down is the one for you.

10-01-2006, 12:58 PM	#3
qksilver Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern Pines NC Posts: 3,853	Re: Valve Spring Removal with Heads in Place? Take a brass hammer and lightly hit the the top side of the valve springs. Sometimes the keepers will stick to the valve spring retainers. The 2 small parts that fit around the top of the valve stem holding down the flat circle part that fir on top of the springs. Tap it a few times and usually it will be enough to loosen their grip. Then procede as you were. Worse comes to worse push rope into the cylinder then rotate the engine slowly to take up slack. That will also hold the valves and keep them from dropping

10-01-2006, 01:12 PM	#4
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Valve Spring Removal with Heads in Place? I've seen ppl remove the plug, and insert a long rope in the cylinder (leaving one end hanging out) and then turn the engine to where the rope is compressed against the valves.

10-01-2006, 04:07 PM	#7
Frizzle Fry Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hillsboro Oregon Posts: 6,449	Re: Valve Spring Removal with Heads in Place? Cool, thanks guys. I'll give it a shot and report back...

10-01-2006, 05:55 PM	#8
japi69 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New-Brunswick Posts: 22	Re: Valve Spring Removal with Heads in Place? Ditto2

10-02-2006, 05:15 PM	#9
Frizzle Fry Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hillsboro Oregon Posts: 6,449	Re: Valve Spring Removal with Heads in Place? Alright, here's what I ended up doing: Increase air pressure to 160 psi Remove rockers Pressurize cylinder Rap on retainers (int/exh for that cylinder) all the way around the circumference of the retainer until it breaks loose from the keepers. The sound clearly changes when they break loose. Now the lever-bar on the rocker stud works like a champ I have the whole pass side done. Eight more to go... Thanks again guys. I bet the rope deal works just as well or even better for a really stubborn keeper/retainer.

10-02-2006, 05:19 PM	#10
68GenIII Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Fort Walton Beach, FL Posts: 257	Re: Valve Spring Removal with Heads in Place? If they arent real stubborn you can use the TDC method as well. Rotate the motor until the piston is up, change one cylinder then move to the other TDC cylinder. Careful not to bend your valves __________________ 68 lwb to swb Cummins swap in the works. I promise it will be cool someday.



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