I have a 331 with eldbroke alum heads and tommrow im going to attemp to change the vavle springs.. does any one have a web site or somting with step by step intructions to not srew this up? thanks
A good trick (although, somewhat dangerous) to removing the spring retainers, is to take a socket that's just big enough to fit over the head of the nut but still over the retainers, and smack it with a hammer.
Seriously....wear eye protection and it's probably a good idea to wear a glove or something, but what you're doing is basically making the spring compress a little so that the retainers can pop out. This way you won't need the compresser tool.
A good trick (although, somewhat dangerous) to removing the spring retainers, is to take a socket that's just big enough to fit over the head of the nut but still over the retainers, and smack it with a hammer.
Seriously....wear eye protection and it's probably a good idea to wear a glove or something, but what you're doing is basically making the spring compress a little so that the retainers can pop out. This way you won't need the compresser tool.
welp update... i worked for 7 hours and only got 6 springs changed out due to crappy valve spring compressor tools. The first one I got from advance auto parts it looked all fancy and sucessfully removed one old spring before breaking. I took it back and went to autozone and got a O.E.M. brand compressor and took off and put on 6 springs while it was a PITA on everyone because a lock washer on the tool kept breaking off. Well it was getting dark so I figured id run to sears and see if they had one. They did and it looked close to what the one from autozone and i was kinda skeptial about getting it but i figured its a craftsman so ill give it a chance. I got back put it on the next spring and i seemed to work good on removing it but it was to dark and i hate flash lights so Im going to atempt to change out all the other ones tommrow moring. lesson learned all the valve spring compressors are crap besides the one from sears and ill put it to the test tommrow. wish me luck!
the best kinds are the hammer style with the magnet inside to take off. this works like a socket yet theres a magnet in there that retrieves the retainer and keepers. the next on is the 62370 from moroso. this one works with stud mounted rocker arms and you need it if you have double valve springs.
huh, got my spring compressor from murray's and it took off my prings and put them back on, on the big block about 2-3 times now and it still works great