broken valve spring. questions
broken valve spring. questions I just found out today that I have a roken valve spring. I had my car flat bedded to the dealership and they found zero compression in the nuber 1 cylider. The took of the valve cover and found a broken vave spring and a bent valve. They want to charge me 1550.00 to do the work + cost for the parts that I have to get myself. I tried to get a hold of Cartek where I bought the head and cam package. They told me that they no longer deal with valve spring company springs that they installed in my heads. Is it ok to mix different valve springs???? Also I am trying to decide if i want to do it myself???Anyone have a tough time working with Cartek???
hanks for your help in advance
hanks for your help in advance
Springs are easy to change with the right tools, replace them all. If one broke, the others are not far behind. As for the valve, you will need to pull the head to replace it. If it is a Cartek head, is it even a stock size valve? Not sure if the dealer will touch it. Also, is it a multi-angle valve job? You really need to contact Cartek and get as much information as you can on the heads prior to making a decision. Definitely change all the springs though.
Isn't Bret Bauer up your way? Maybe he can advise you or do the work.
Isn't Bret Bauer up your way? Maybe he can advise you or do the work.
the wierd thing is the car as a total of 21,000 mile on it and about 5,000 on it since the head and cam swap. I just dont understand how it broke so soon. I think Brett Bauer is up my way. I will probally change all the springs how much do they cost app.??? I did the the head and cam swap myself. I am not to worried about taking it apart myself. There are things that I havn't done yet such as remove the springs. Also is a bent vale obvious??
Yep do it yourself if you can. I changed out a valve spring on my sons GTO this past weekend. Thankfully he didnt bend a valve. I bought the entire set but didnt have the time to do them all so I just replaced the broken one. Runs great! But like others have said if one broke, its just a matter of time before another goes.
Originally Posted by 2scoot
Yep do it yourself if you can. I changed out a valve spring on my sons GTO this past weekend. Thankfully he didnt bend a valve. I bought the entire set but didnt have the time to do them all so I just replaced the broken one. Runs great! But like others have said if one broke, its just a matter of time before another goes.
Where do I get a tool to do the valve spring that is not to much money. I think that I seen a tool somewhere on here that someone has made???
Are changing valve springs tuff?
Launching!
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 273
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From: Wichita Falls, TX
Originally Posted by 2scoot
Yep do it yourself if you can. I changed out a valve spring on my sons GTO this past weekend. Thankfully he didnt bend a valve. I bought the entire set but didnt have the time to do them all so I just replaced the broken one. Runs great! But like others have said if one broke, its just a matter of time before another goes.
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Originally Posted by bernieblackbird
Where do I get a tool to do the valve spring that is not to much money. I think that I seen a tool somewhere on here that someone has made???
Are changing valve springs tuff?
Are changing valve springs tuff?
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Originally Posted by cantdrv65
I HIGHLY reccommend the crane valvespring tool for doing the spring change on the car. Heads and shoulders above everything else. Thunder racing stocks them I think its like 120 bucks.... Yeah you will have to pull the head with the bent valve and more than likely have to get the seat repaired. The other head will be fine, just change all the springs and make sure you get the install height correct. If your cam has less than .600 lift which it appears to, comp 918's will work great for ya.
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 14,620
Likes: 17
From: BFE
To clarify the message:
It is OK to mix the springs ONLY if they are the same springs.
Not different types.
And if you have a bent valve (questionable), how did they determine that without taking the valve out?
If it is obvious, then new guides are needed and new valve job.
Shoot for the price they are charging, might as well buy another set and slap them on yourself.
What kinda heads were they?
It is OK to mix the springs ONLY if they are the same springs.
Not different types.
And if you have a bent valve (questionable), how did they determine that without taking the valve out?
If it is obvious, then new guides are needed and new valve job.
Shoot for the price they are charging, might as well buy another set and slap them on yourself.
What kinda heads were they?
Originally Posted by PREDATOR-Z
What kinda heads were they?
Originally Posted by bernieblackbird
...I tried to get a hold of Cartek where I bought the head and cam package...
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 14,620
Likes: 17
From: BFE
Originally Posted by 777
Originally Posted by bernieblackbird
...I tried to get a hold of Cartek where I bought the head and cam package
...I tried to get a hold of Cartek where I bought the head and cam package
Valves??
Spring used??
i think the spring that was used back then is a pheonix I think that what Cartek told me. The heads are ls1 ported bt Cartek have to dig up the paperwork to find all the diensions.it's been awhile bought them in 2001. I went to the dealership today to take a look @the damage the mechanic was not there. Its the intake valve on the drivers side (i believe it is cylinder 1)the outside spring has snapped and went over the top of the retainer. He has left everything alone, I am starting to woneder how he knows that the valve is bent without taking it apart??? I know they did a cylinder head comprsession test and there was 0 pressure. Would this tell him that there is a valve problem ?? 
I will be going back I will try to take pictures and post them
thanks
I will be going back I will try to take pictures and post them
thanks
Yes a simple leakdown test on the affected cyllinder will confirm a bent valve. Taking the spring off, holding the valve against the seat and rotating it with your fingers will also show a bent valve. If its bent the stem will try to move vertically while rotating. The absolute best test is leakdown however...
Last edited by cantdrv65; May 12, 2006 at 09:31 PM.
Originally Posted by hardtopz28
for a cheap valve spring tool the tims valve spring tool is great can do the whole car bout 2 hrs
Originally Posted by cantdrv65
Yes a simple leakdown test on the affected cyllinder will confirm a bent valve
thanks again
Originally Posted by bernieblackbird
where can i find this???also is there a setup that i can buy that will allo me to put 100 psi in the cylnder so can change thr valves on the passengers side head??possibly a write up of step by step on how to change springs
So looks like I have to take the head of the car again to change the valve.Is it possible that the valve could have ruined somthing else???guides???
thanks again
So looks like I have to take the head of the car again to change the valve.Is it possible that the valve could have ruined somthing else???guides???
thanks again
So since I am taking the head off i might as well change all the valvesprings while its off. How do you hold the valves when taking off the springs with the heads off??
I talked to Dave @ Cartek today he said to go with Comp 921's are these a good choice???
I talked to Dave @ Cartek today he said to go with Comp 921's are these a good choice???
Depends why the valve spring broke. I replaced a broken spring a year ago and didn't have any issues with the other springs for another year.
$1,500 to pull the heads, replace a bad lifter, and swap the valve springs doesn't sound too bad, but that's definitely not cheap.
Mark
$1,500 to pull the heads, replace a bad lifter, and swap the valve springs doesn't sound too bad, but that's definitely not cheap.
Mark
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 14,620
Likes: 17
From: BFE
Originally Posted by bernieblackbird
So since I am taking the head off i might as well change all the valvesprings while its off. How do you hold the valves when taking off the springs with the heads off??
I talked to Dave @ Cartek today he said to go with Comp 921's are these a good choice???
I talked to Dave @ Cartek today he said to go with Comp 921's are these a good choice???
Either take the heads off and have them rebuilt.
Or Buy another set of heads. You can get a set of Patriot stage 1 with 918's for $1000, all brand new parts 243 casting (LS2/LS6). They come with gaskets and bolts.
You can then use $199 for a new set of lifters and do all the work yourself.