Currently installing BTR springs on our LS1 and it's giving me fits! Anyone else struggle with this? I did a cam change about 3 years ago and installed PAC 1215 springs using the TF dual spring tool and it was as easy as pie. This time the springs are fighting me. I even picked up the single spring tool. It seems like it's almost impossible to get the hole on the retainer centered as you compress the spring to install the keepers. I got 5 springs done yesterday but it took me over 2 hours and this isn't my first rodeo. Plus I had keepers flying all over the shop. Ugh!

Also, I sold the PAC springs so I need to get them off to ship them to the buyer who has already paid me. Any tricks on how to keep the valves from sliding down into the cylinders in case I don't have the patience to keep fighting these BTR springs and want to come back to it later. I'm using air now of course to do a cylinder at a time.

Scott

 

I have wrapped tape around the end of the valves to keep them from falling down into the cylinder when I needed to use the air for something else or needed to stop in the middle of an installation. Another way would be to rotate the engine over to top dead center on which ever cylinder you are working on. This will keep the valve from falling all the way down as well if you were to need to stop in the middle of installation. Ideally though just take a breath and finish up the springs you are working on and then take a break and finish up the rest later if possible.

 

I use a screwdriver to gently pry on the tool as you compress it to try to keep the valve centered. It's still a pain in the *** in the car versus on the bench.

If you give up you could use rubber bands to hold the valves up by putting it tight around them in pairs to prevent them falling in

 

Thanks guys. Tape and rubber bands sound like a good idea for the cylinders where the pistons aren't up far enough to hold the valve from dropping. I really want to get all these PAC springs off so that I can ship the buyer his cam and springs and not hold him up. He's already paid me so I want to make sure he is taken care of even if these BTR springs are giving me issues. Also, it's in the high 90s this week in East Texas with a heat index of almost 110 so working in our non-AC shop just isn't too much fun. I'm going to give the TF dual spring tool a shot again to see if it pushes the springs down straight. The single spring flat bar tool seems to push the spring "up" toward the intake on the way down keeping the retainer from being centered. I hate to invest $150 in the Crane tool when I already have two tools.

Scott

 

I use a pocket screwdriver with a magnet on the end to lift up the valve, piston is on TDC of course. A little wiggle of the compressor moves the spring just enough to drop in the keepers.

 

Keep the valve stem biased toward the top of center, and it will center as you crank down on the tool. Put the locks in from the front. Once the first lock is in, you can rotate it around while inside the groove to the back. Don't try to put the lock in directly in the back or you'll have to have the valve exactly centered to get it in.

 

if you have local head shop they will do for cheap usually. I paid 60 bucks just to have them put them on

 

I'm in the process of doing mine currently and the proform tool is great and making it very easy to do the install. I'm using air to hold the valves up and sometimes I have to use a screwdriver to center it but only a little bit with the BTR .660 springs.

 

I use clean rope, take plugs out, use biggest
rope that will fit in the hole, fill er up, no worries.
Of course leave some out so you can grab it
when done. Works for me.

 

I installed BTR dual springs in mine no issues with compressing the springs w/ single spring tool but had to order a set of seals I ruined a few.

 

Update: Well, after taking a few weeks off to do some around-the-house projects this summer and keep from burning the car to the ground from frustration I got back at it this week. When I first tried to install springs I think I did like 5 in more than 2 hours and had keepers flying everywhere around the shop. Yesterday I tried again and using a LARGE screwdriver to help keep the retainers located in the center on the way down as well as a single tool they all went on slick as could be. I did the remaining 11 in less than an hour total. Amazing how walking away from a project and coming back to it can make all the difference in the world. Learned that from my best buddy Tom who is a diesel mechanic by trade.

Scott

 

Good to hear that it worked out for you. A trick for holding keepers in place is to dab them with grease and stick them to the valve stem, it helped me prevent them from rocketing across my garage.

 

Great tip. Thank you. I did end up having a few skyrocket across the garage but we've tracked them all down.

 

Yeah I had a few do that to me before figuring out a better solution haha, it made the job much easier when I didn't have to try and decompress the spring while holding the keepers in place perfectly.