Any type of special spring compressor to get these valve springs off my Z? I cannot get them off and I have tried 2 different springs compressors,and nothing. In other words I am pissed <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="gr_images/icons/mad.gif" /> .

 

I've used one of those $15 Craftsman spring compressors with no problems. LS1s are actually easier than most engines since our springs are a bit taller with their installed height.

Tony

 

Depends a bit on your experience level. It's possable that the valve locks are not releasing from the "lock" in the spring retainer. A bit of a rap on one edge (downward) of the retainer will "release" the assembly such that compressing the spring/retainer allows the valve stem and split locks to be accessed to allow removal of the split locks. Sorry if I'm out of line about the experience you've acquired but you never know when messaging. Good Luck.

 

Thanks for the resposes guys.
I bought a lysle compressor with the star handle, and it fits fine.
As for the experience level, well I suck at wrenchin' on cars. So you are not out of line in my case. I want to learn though, and I was suppose to have a friend that has done a cam swap before stop by that never did. My other friends that were helping, neither has ever worked inside an LS1 before. But both have a lot of experience with internal engine work, so they got a good idea what they are doing. And with some advice this would have been a breeze, instead of being the day everything became nothing. Yesterday a couple of friends and myself got all the little stuff out of the way. Radiator, plugs, wires, coils valve covers, and water pump all off in about two hours (or three beers). Today, it took all day just to get the springs off the #1 cylinder. First, waiting for my friend that knows about this engine to stop by (never did)[9am-noon], then an hour to try to find an air compressor (failed) [noon-1:30], then try four different spring compressor until one works [2:00-5:30], lose a keeper [6:30}, try to buy a new set of keepers (AUTOZONE SUCKS and this too failed)[6:30-7:30], and spend yet another hour trying to find the keeper that was lost (found it one of my only sucesses of the day).
BTW the "hot potato" method of changing springs SUCKS. By the end of the day we went out to get a air compressor to keep the valves up while changing the springs. This too ends in failure at 10 pm when a fuse blew out (no replacement of course). And I have yet to have a single beer today. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="gr_images/icons/mad.gif" /> So, what was to be a day of fun and hard work turned into complete rubbish, or the day everything became nothing. Now I just hope that I can finish this tomorrow.
Sorry I needed to vent somewhere.