The two little C shaped guys that hold the valve spring to the valve stem...One of mine popped out when the rocker arm came off...now i got the spring compressed pretty far so that the one lock thats still in there moves rather freely...but I cant pop the second one in there...does it just need to be tapped(which I tried a bit)..or is there something else I should know about?

Thanks...

 

Compress the spring all the way. Then remove the other lock (little C thing). Then put both locks in at the same time and the will seat against the valve stem. Slowly uncompress spring.

 

A strong magnet is your friend.

 

If you're doing it while the head is on the car, and that cylinder's piston isn't at TDC, you're about 2 inches from a real bad day if that valve decides to slide into the cylinder once the other lock disengages.

Anyways, either raise the piston in that cylinder to TDC or fill the cylinder with compressed air to keep the valve from falling in. After you compress the spring then use a telescoping magnet (available from most auto parts stores for around $1.99) to pull out the remaining lock. The remove the spring and pull up on the valve to make sure it's completely raised (if you're not using air). This will make it much easier to put the locks in. Be careful because if you touch the valve stem it may slide back down to where it was. Now put the spring back on. You can put the locks back in using needle-nose pliers. Once they're in, uncompress the spring and make sure the locks are locked into the valve stem.

Good luck,

-Dave C. '97 Z28

 

The odds are against you that the valve will slide out. Most valves have a lip on the vlave lock area that catches on the valve seals. I had to get a hammer to get out some of my valves from my old heads.

 

Yea, the odds are against.....usually right after I think that something happens that makes me say "oh, F**K!!"

BTW: If you have a lip on your valve stem then the lip is there from wear, and should be filed off before you drag it through your valve guide. Otherwise you trash your valve guide. I'm not talking about the groove for the valve lock to fit into, but a lip on the groove wall where the lock has been pushing up on the stem.

-Dave C. '97 Z28

 

Aight...well this is Piston Number 2 I believe..its the front one on the passenger side..as in right behind the alternator(front of car). So to get that TDC I need to put the crank at like 12 oclock? I know at 12 its either on TDC for valve 1 or 2 right? Sorry if that didnt make sense.

 

Yea i know that now. The seals and guides were replaced anyway.

 

So where should the Cam be to make the number 2 piston at TDC?

 

9 o'clock