Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Any harm in doing a valve spring change now?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 13, 2009 | 03:37 PM
  #1  
IRONFIST's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 622
Likes: 2
From: Calgary Alberta
Default Any harm in doing a valve spring change now?

Well because I have half my LS1 ripped apart due to the bad lifter I'm replacing, I'm thinking of other things to do while the car is apart.
I've got to yank the heads, and am thinking of switching over to stock 243's, and/or at the very least going to better valve springs now.

I want to run an MS4 cam, I'm thinking it would be a hell of a lot easier to switch valve springs now while the cylinder heads are off?
Do most people use the old air pressure technique, to take off valve springs... I've never done that... it scares me.

Am I going to run into problems with the stock cam, and heavy duty springs? Also what springs do you guys recommend?
Reply
Old Jan 13, 2009 | 04:39 PM
  #2  
RyderTA's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
From: Utah
Default

How many miles do you have? Your stock springs will do just fine with a stock config. No sense in wearing out high lift springs for nothing. Airing up the cylinders will hold the valve just fine, just make sure you have good pressure when you hook it up. It won't hurt anything having high lift springs though, nor will it help.
Reply
Old Jan 13, 2009 | 04:56 PM
  #3  
blkbird's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (28)
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,678
Likes: 14
From: san antonio, tx
Default

If youre going to yank the heads off then you dont need to worry about the air method.
Reply
Old Jan 14, 2009 | 12:30 AM
  #4  
IRONFIST's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 622
Likes: 2
From: Calgary Alberta
Default

Originally Posted by blkbird
If youre going to yank the heads off then you dont need to worry about the air method.
I've just never used the air pressure method. So with the heads off, I'm thinking of swapping the springs. Any recommendations? Or am I just better off waiting?
Reply
Old Jan 14, 2009 | 12:51 AM
  #5  
35th SS's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,622
Likes: 1
From: Hawaii track track.
Default

I would changed the springs while the heads are off.
if the heads were on the car I would prefer the TDC method.
Reply
Old Jan 14, 2009 | 01:55 AM
  #6  
Red96TA's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 494
Likes: 1
From: Bryant/Fayetteville, Arkansas
Default

If you have even the slightest hunch you might do a cam swap in the future do it now. It takes 10 minutes on a bench as opposed to hours of hard work. It took us 6 hours to do mine but it was my first swap. And my spring tool was shitty. (MORE tool from Thunder). You will be glad you went ahead and did it.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Edit...just reread your post and saw you want a magic stick. For sure do it now. Duals are a BITCH with the heads on the car. Doable, but a bitch. Do it now. Or you could wait and wish you did it already. Your choice
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:40 AM.

story-0
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 11:05:11


VIEW MORE
story-1
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-3
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-4
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-5
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-8
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-9
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE