valve spring/lock reassembly tricks

[bwest]

Is there a trick or 'special' procedure for reassembling the the spring/keeper/lock while the head is in the car? I can remove the spring assembly no problem, but the challenge (that I can't figure out) is how to get the locks back on the stem without using one of those c-clamp style valve spring tools. I have a spare head that I was trying different things on yesterday (to no avail).

Anyone have any ideas or should I quit wasting time just yank the head (didn't really want to do that if I could avoid it)? I only need to do up to 4 springs (had a valve stem seal go bad in 1 cyl) so its not like I'm tearing the entire head apart.

Thanks

 

[aye mate]

I once used a Quickclamp and a piece of metal pipe about an inch in diameter with two notches cut out of it so you could stick the keeper to the valve. This was a PITA because if the clamp wasn't centered on the pipe and the pipe wasn't centered on the valve it would slide off and the spring would go for a ride.

I just recently finished assembling my head and I bought a valve spring compressor, it made it ALOT easier than using the pipe and clamp method.

Do yourself a favor and drop 50.00 on a valve spring compressor.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/VaLv...ryZ43996QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I bought this exact one, works perfect.

 

[bwest]

That is the route I figured I would take if I couldn't manage to do it on the car. I did make a notched pipe tool with a pvc guide ring (to not scratch the lifter bore), but like you said, keeping an even, constant tension while trying to put the locks around the stem is anything but easy...

thanks for the heads up on the tool

 

[MA70Snowman]

try this works like a champ

http://supraforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=367794

 

[88YotaTurbo]

Buy this and stop worrying for ever.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...&group_ID=1578&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
check this out too
http://gallery.sanitylapse.com/v/supra/Head+Reassembly+5-20-05/DSC_1747.jpg.html

 

[cjsupra90]

Buy this and stop worrying for ever.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...&group_ID=1578&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
check this out too
http://gallery.sanitylapse.com/v/supra/Head+Reassembly+5-20-05/DSC_1747.jpg.html

Cant agree more, except that I built mine from scrach for about $15 to $20 in stuff from ace hardware and a bit of time.

whether you build one or buy one, reassembling the valve train on 7m and JZ along with others I am sure is a breeze..

 

[GrimJack]

For another trick... to use that tool while the head is still in the car, pull the spark plug and feed a bunch of soft nylon rope into the cylinder while the piston is down, the rotate the engine by hand until the rope pushes the valves up. Insert your keepers and rotate the engine back a bit, pull the rope out, and move to the next cylinder.

If you have 2 pieces of rope you can do 2 cylinders at once.

 

[aye mate]

I've heard that before, Grim. A guy once told me that he used an air compressor to do the same thing. It seems to me that using an air compressor would be a little risky, sounds much safer to have something solid actually holding the valve in place.

 

[cjsupra90]

I've heard that before, Grim. A guy once told me that he used an air compressor to do the same thing. It seems to me that using an air compressor would be a little risky, sounds much safer to have something solid actually holding the valve in place.

Yes, using air is a risky thing cause any major leaks that you are unaware of and of an accident like the compressor hose rupturing can cause you drop valves down in the bore (not good). I do the rope trick anytime that I am doing such work with the head still on the engine.