I have a set of freshly redone heads with stock springs, and a set of LT4 springs that need to go on them. If I were to go down to the local parts store and get a valve spring compressor, is it pretty straightforward? I've never messed with springs or retainers before.
Heads are of the car BTW.

 

Very straight forward and easy with the heads on a work bench.

 

Go for it man. I put my LT4 valve springs on by myself and my heads were still on the car. It is pretty simple. Just look at how the spring comes off and put it back on the same way. Trust me, its no big deal, but can be a bit time consuming depending on how big of a pain the little keepers are to get off and on. Peace, Dustin.

 

I did this w/ the heads on the motor and its not too hard but takes a long time. If yo uget the crane tool it makes it 100% eaiser and you can do 2 at a time. I used the convetional screw type compressor for all of them except the one under the cowl which I couldnt reach so I was forced to buy the crane one just for 1 spring! If you want I will sell it to you for 100$ shipped. I got it from byunspeed. So you will save 10 bucks. Let me know but It makes one hell of a difference. All you do is bolt it down to the rocker studs and ratchet it down, extremly easy.

 

Make sure to use a magnet tool for the keepers, helps a ton. Just compress the spring enough to remove the keeprs and take them out and remove spring. Very easy.

 

Off the car is the easiest way to do it.

 

A little chassis grease on the keepers helps a lot when going back together.