Spring install nightmare!!!
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 290
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From: Austin
Spring install nightmare!!! I AM A F**KING IDIOT! Well I finally finished installing my springs tonight w/ this POS over the head thing and just when I pick up the howto guide to see whats next, I see where it says to hammer the new seals down w/ a socket.
I start thinking.... **** I just stuck them down on the bottom of the valve. So I just wasted 3 days of HARD *** ******* labor. I'm not sure weather to go cry or knock myself out against a brick wall.
My life just went from pure joy and excitment to pure hell in the blink of an eye...
I'm screwed right? Gotta tear into them again and hammer the seals down?
how long would it normally take with the crane tool?
I start thinking.... **** I just stuck them down on the bottom of the valve. So I just wasted 3 days of HARD *** ******* labor. I'm not sure weather to go cry or knock myself out against a brick wall.
My life just went from pure joy and excitment to pure hell in the blink of an eye...
I'm screwed right? Gotta tear into them again and hammer the seals down?
how long would it normally take with the crane tool?
Yeah, hammer them seals down or you'll be burning oil. Take a socket a little smaller than the seal. You'll know when you have it down all the way. It makes a different sound once you get it set. Hope you still have that spring tool that you borrowed or bought. Your going to have to take the springs back off. A piece of advice, go buy a little magnet to put on top of the retainers to keep them from flying everywhere. One of those little extendable pen magnets that they sell at Vatozone works pretty good. What way are you going about doing the valves? Are you using the top dead center method or are you using a compressor? Either way, try not to drop a valve in the cylinder or you'll be taking the heads off. Hope this helps.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 290
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From: Austin
Originally Posted by Phantompooper
Sucky, it may be time to invest in one of those expensive spring compressors.
If I go through what I've delt with over the past 3 days fighting with this compressor again, I'll literlly loose my sanity.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 290
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From: Austin
Originally Posted by nmhellraiser
Yeah, hammer them seals down or you'll be burning oil. Take a socket a little smaller than the seal. You'll know when you have it down all the way. It makes a different sound once you get it set. Hope you still have that spring tool that you borrowed or bought. Your going to have to take the springs back off. A piece of advice, go buy a little magnet to put on top of the retainers to keep them from flying everywhere. One of those little extendable pen magnets that they sell at Vatozone works pretty good. Hope this helps.
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I did not knock mine down with a socket, i pushed them down with my fingers after putting some grease on them and they have a solid click when they go into place. It doesn't require a socket so if you pushed them into place you may not have to take the springs off again. If you didn't get yourself a crane or larry tool and save some headaches or knuckle aches.
Vinci High Performance has the best price on the Crane Tool >>>>>>>>>>
I can't tell you how much time this tools saves and there is minimal effort involved. I am using mine right now to rebuild a set of heads, best thing you can buy and you will need to be changing springs in the future so make the investment now and save yourself some grief. Careful what tool you use to put on the valve seals, you can damage them and then you will be in there again.
I can't tell you how much time this tools saves and there is minimal effort involved. I am using mine right now to rebuild a set of heads, best thing you can buy and you will need to be changing springs in the future so make the investment now and save yourself some grief. Careful what tool you use to put on the valve seals, you can damage them and then you will be in there again.
To a void this guys mistakes you need to use the right tools for the job. Crane dual spring tool, JPR lifter rods, and the fittings for compressed air in the cylinder to hold the valves up.
I rent out all three for $30 for a long as you need (within reason of course).
You dont need to spend $240 on tools. You just need to rent them. Why buy tools your only going to use once. I rent for less than the cost of the larry or tim tool.
I rent out all three for $30 for a long as you need (within reason of course).
You dont need to spend $240 on tools. You just need to rent them. Why buy tools your only going to use once. I rent for less than the cost of the larry or tim tool.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
From: Austin
Originally Posted by vettenuts
Vinci High Performance has the best price on the Crane Tool >>>>>>>>>>
I can't tell you how much time this tools saves and there is minimal effort involved. I am using mine right now to rebuild a set of heads, best thing you can buy and you will need to be changing springs in the future so make the investment now and save yourself some grief. Careful what tool you use to put on the valve seals, you can damage them and then you will be in there again.
I can't tell you how much time this tools saves and there is minimal effort involved. I am using mine right now to rebuild a set of heads, best thing you can buy and you will need to be changing springs in the future so make the investment now and save yourself some grief. Careful what tool you use to put on the valve seals, you can damage them and then you will be in there again.
We were doin a spring, cam and intake swap job on my Z last night. Compressed air a must, right spring compression tool also a must. Instead of going through the nightmare of doing them over the top (f**king cowl space or lack there of) we decided to invest 1:30 hr and dropped the engine and tranny. Soooo much easier this way and can do other things like EGR/AIR removal, intake swap, ect. I feel for you cause we started by workin on the springs on top first and then decided it would be much easier to drop that sucker then work on it. Not always the best choice for some, but definately the right choice for us. BTW, we tried the socket approach 
and ruined one of the new seals 
Good luck !!!!
and ruined one of the new seals Good luck !!!!
Originally Posted by cantdrv65
BUY THE CRANE TOOL and thank me later. TRUST ME!
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
From: Austin
I AM DONE! w/ the springs anyway... I thank all of you who suggested to get the dual spring tool. I knocked that **** out again but this time in 2 1/2 hours! YESssss.....
Got the rockers back on, valve covers back on, and pvc connections hoocked back up but it was 12:30 by this point so i decided to save the final stuff for tonight. And getting that engine seal out of the timing cover was about PITA but the new one slid back in like butter. No pressure needed...
Got the rockers back on, valve covers back on, and pvc connections hoocked back up but it was 12:30 by this point so i decided to save the final stuff for tonight. And getting that engine seal out of the timing cover was about PITA but the new one slid back in like butter. No pressure needed...
Hmmm... I can't say anything about the quality of decision you made after asking for input (link below) because I'm stubborn myself.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/generation-iii-internal-engine/672806-autozone-spring-compressor.html
Ben T.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/generation-iii-internal-engine/672806-autozone-spring-compressor.html
Ben T.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
From: Austin
Originally Posted by Studytime
Hmmm... I can't say anything about the quality of decision you made after asking for input (link below) because I'm stubborn myself.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=672806
Ben T.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=672806
Ben T.
Well i had to find out the hard way like I've done many times in my life. This crane tool saved me all of the pain and frustration and was a real life saver after the **** i put myself through with that over head jaw type compressor! Never again... NEVER AGAIN!