i read something about hos i could use my air compressor and stuff and some kind of modified spark plug to hold the valves up. is this something i woud have to make? where to buy, and is it really needed?

 

Use the TDC method, much safer IMO, and no special tool needed.

 

kool and what about the 5/16 rods to stick in and hold up hte lifters.. lol i may not be picturing it clearly in my mind.. but what two holes do these go in? also do u have to smooth them down any? and how long, i read 24 inches is long enuff.. this true? thanks and sorry, everytime i search i read different opinions, different ppl say it did or didn't work for them and most the threads are a year old lol.

 

I used this method too go to ls1 how to. Cam swap jmx has directions on deg. of crank rotation and what cylinders are at tdc. Works great. good luck.

 

I made my own fitting, but you can buy a specifically made tool for this at an autoparts store. I've seen them with a rubber hose which may work better than mine. The prob I had was clearance on the rear pass side so I had to use a 90 degree elbow. I used the TDC method and air so that the valve did not fall any at all. Then if I screwed up with the air the piston was already up & I wouldn't loose the valve.

 

exactly

 

When you take off the cam gear, there are 2 wholes behind it.

1 will have to be ground down flat the length of the cam (depends on year of motor), as for length, about 5 fingers longer than the cam (so you can have enough for a 90* angle handle].

 

I used a leak down tester that I had and screwed it into the plug hole. The other side I just unthreaded the guage and threaded on the compressor quick connect fitting. Worked great.

I used 5/16 tubing and just hammered it flat a little bit until it went in. Piece of cake

 

If you use air to hold em up, get the larry tool on there snug, take a rubber hammer to the top and tap it a few times, this will losen the locks off the valve and they will come off easy and u wont have any problems of dropping a valve then.

 

We used 5/16" stock on my LS1 in the galleys after turning the cam a few times to get the lifters to stay up. I have heard of people being able to do it without using rods down the galleys, but I was a little leary and figured I would be better off being safe, than sorry. We used air to hold my valves which worked really well, but make damn sure both valves are shut or it'll make a hell of a hissing noise!

 

For sure bring the piston up.Another way to hold the valves up is with the spark plug removed slide in a long piece of 1/4 inch quality rope(small diameter will work),of course leave some hanging out and bring up the piston by hand until it stops.That will hold the valves up

 

or you could do the ole feed about 3' of rope into the sparkplug hole method




j/k - i would do the top dead center method myself, what if someone accidentally disconnects the air hose from the compressor?

 

HA beat you by a second.

 

yea i bought two 3 ft long 5/16 inch smooth rod things from lowes tonight.. should do the trick id think. why are ya'll using 5/16th's if there are issues with having to grind some off? why not just use 3/4's????? i mean its 1/16th less, surely they will hold the lifters, but u wouldn't have to bother with any grinding on it.

 

hey i would like to make some of these rods myself...does anyone have a picture and some instructions?

thanks
joe

 

The air tool to do this only costs a few dollars from most auto supply stores. When I change the springs I go to TDC and use the air ....why take a chance?

 

im pretty sure u just buy them and there is ur tool lol.... someone said u may have to fine one of them down to get it to slide alll the way in, u could bend up one in at 90 degrees to make a handle if u like, take a grinder, and kinda make a blunt tip.. other then those things, ive heard ppl say they bought em adn stuck em in.

 

http://www.vincihighperformance.com/superwebdeals.HTML vinci sells the hose and adapter. also, if you don't have avalve spring tool, they just dropped the price on the vinci/crane tool.

 

i got a larry spring tool. thanks for the link tho, but i just got to ask, do own vinci motorsports or something? im not bashing at all please understand, its just everythread i see you post in u reccomend something of vinci? do you have a stake in it? or do u just think that highly of them?

 

it's one of those you scratch my back things. i've known roger vinci for over 10+ years. currently, i do some testing of parts for them on both of my f-bodies. i do think VERY highly of them and their services also. no stake in them or do i own them. i also assist roger with their website.

on the flipside, they aren't the only ones i've delt with. i've talked with mike norris, do some tire and suspension work for larry macedo ( 1000hp vipers , and have driven a couple), robby from corvette masters, years ago mike madole from superchips here in longwood, fl. i also used to be a manger for super shops (nation's largest performance retail shop until shut down).