I am no wimp but this has got to be one of the hardest things you can even attempt. I worked for 1 hour learning the tricks to doing it on the easiest to get to cylinder then gave up when I realized it would be nearly impossible to get to the ones in the back with the other, even harder to use valve spring compressor tool (the twist down claw type). What I found to be nearly impossible was getting the locks to fit. Getting just the first one down without the valve falling in a little was torture. Wiggling the compressor around after getting the first one in seemed to help to get the second one in. I bow my head to anyone who can do this in a reasonable amount of time.

I'm no quiter so I went out and tried the intake side on the easy cylinder and it had another issue, the locks wouldn't let go. I had to really rap it with a mallet/large socket to get it loose. This brings up the next issue which is if the back 7 and 8 valve locks don't let go how the heck are you supposed to whack them? Anyone trying this for the first time I'd say do the easy cylinder first then go straight for the back two and you may find you can't get them off. Once again I throw in the towel

 

Just take the heads off then.

 

This was just more of a warning for those new to it. There are few, if any, warnings about the difficulty of doing this. I wonder how many people bought all the parts then found out the hard and expensive way this can be impossible to do with the heads on?

Hal

 

I guess I was lucky. After I got the first couple done (not having done it before on the car), the rest were finished in no time. I was actually surprised at how quickly it was over.

 

Shoebox, it looks like you even took all the rockers off first. I can see how that would help the view to the back. I admit I might press on but I don't have a garage right now (converted to room/storage) and it's only getting hotter outside.

I may just put a 50 shot on instead. It doesn't cost that much more than doing a full swap rr/tools/rods/springs/other. With a remote bottle opener it would be there when I need more

Hal

 

I had my car at the Chevy dealership for 18 days to do the springs. He used the compressed air method and that was the biggest mistake.

 

That's was a dumb listed way to do it. The manual will sometimes get you in trouble like that.

Hal

 

ive done abour 6 sets of them on car, its just tedious, with a couple friends and a case of beer its not that bad, takes about an hour give or take.

 

Yeah, it deffiantly took me longer than I origonally thought it would. I used a magnet to get my locks out. Don't get depressed if shoebox can do it in no time. He's the man.

 

If it only took an hour I certainly wouldn't be complaining. I don't know how you could have done it so quickly. It took me an hour on just one easy cylinder. I'm pretty sure the problem with mine is because I was running 1.6 with stock springs which crushed all the locks in. Now they are a b!tsh to get out. I'd still do it but don't see how I can put a hard enough smack on the back 4 valves to get them to loosen.


Hal

 

one friend on 1 head and me on the other. when we do the cylinders that are up we just rotate the crank and go back at it.

 

I use a tool from Crane that uses 2 rocker studs to fasten it down and it compresses two springs at once. it makes it extremely easy to chance the springs out with the heads on the car.

 

That is the way to go. Piece of p--s.

 

That Crane tool does look like it makes it easy. I wish they didn't charge so much for such a simple thing. Oddly, I can't find a deal on it anywhere. But, I could get one and put it on ebay and not lose much.

Hal

 

It is worth every penny. I have two Fbodies and work on many others. It works on both lt and ls heads.