Remove Heads for cam/spring change
#1
TECH Apprentice
Thread Starter
Remove Heads for cam/spring change
Does anybody recommend removing the heads for a cam/spring change?...just seems like it might be about as easy to remove the heads than to try to change the springs with it still on the car...?
#4
Launching!
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Hi,
your project will require patience,frustration and a few special tools. Exercise caution to assure cam is properly installed. Use caution on o-ring for oil pump. Double check your work and torque specs to avoid issues. Top off fluids and check for leaks. Change oil and filter. Best of luck and work safely.
your project will require patience,frustration and a few special tools. Exercise caution to assure cam is properly installed. Use caution on o-ring for oil pump. Double check your work and torque specs to avoid issues. Top off fluids and check for leaks. Change oil and filter. Best of luck and work safely.
#7
TECH Apprentice
Thread Starter
Thanks guys!...I may go ahead and get my heads ported by patriot performance while I'm doing the cam change, since I'll eventually want to anyway.
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#12
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My trick for catching them is simple and works like a charm. I have a pretty small rectangular magnet, and I place it inside the jaws of some needle nose pliers. I lay the pliers/magnet on the valve tip as I am compressing the spring. It catches them everytime. Dunno how I came up with that.
#14
No need to take the heads off. I've done a few vettes, turn you cam over and make sure you lifters are up. You can take chance and slide you cam in slowly from there. A smarter idea is to get16 cheap expendable magnets and hold the lifters up with them for some added peace of mind. Make sure you have the spark plug hole fitting to hold the valves up when you change springs.
Good luck man
Good luck man
#16
LS1Tech Premium Sponsor
iTrader: (5)
TDC and the Comp (or similar) air tool to pressurize the cylinders! No need to pull heads for a spring swap!
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Largest Stocking Distributor of LS-x Engines / CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE!
COMP - FAST - PACESETTER - DIAMOND RACING - EAGLE SPECIALTY PRODUCTS - CALLIES - COMETIC GASKETS
RAM CLUTCHES - MOSER ENGINEERING - KOOK'S HEADERS - ARP - GM BOLTS AND GASKETS - MSD - NGK
POWERBOND - ASP - AND MORE!
#18
i bought a valve spring compressor off this forum called tim's tool a guy in here designed it and it was cheap and works great, if you decide to do the swap with thte heads on i recommend getting two metal doll rods to hold the lifter up u can buy a fancy tool with a handle but its way over priced and you local hardware should have metal dolls
#19
LSX Mechanic
iTrader: (89)
The reason people are having locks "fly across the room" is because you're not knocking them loose first. Take a 3/4 socket, put it over the top of each spring, and give 2-3 taps with a hammer. This will break the locks loose inside the retainer, and they'll fall right out once the spring is compressed.
You can actually bend a valve if you don't release the locks, use the TDC method, and just smash the valves down on top of the piston to break locks free. Not a good idea.
You can actually bend a valve if you don't release the locks, use the TDC method, and just smash the valves down on top of the piston to break locks free. Not a good idea.