Burning off oil after heads were at machine shop, need some help

I did that with my heads. The seals they gave me were wrong so I replaced them with ford seals with the heads and lower intake on the motor. You just need one of those pry-bar style spring compressors and a telescoping magnet to pull the retainers out, works like a charm. After a few springs, you'll get good at removing them and putting them back on pretty quickly.

But to make sure you don't drop a valve and to break the valve loose from the retainers, you need to pull all your plugs then use a pen or something to find TDC at each cylinder as you go. You'll find that the valves move down with the spring and once it hits the piston, the retainers pop loose. Just don't force it.

if you got an air compressor you can buy a fitting that attaches to the air hose and screws into the spark plug hole.

take off your rockers/plugs, fill up the cylinder with air and work your magic with the springs. easy as pie.

4 bolts 5 minutes.

the air does keep the valve from dropping.

to get the seal off you just pull it up and off, then slide the new seal back on.