once again an angry cam swap post. the i cannot get the retainers off the valve stem. the srping is fully compressed and they are not coming out. i rapped them with a mallet, sprayed it with brake cleaner, cursed at it, threw things at it, everything. how! how can i get them out! i need to drive this car tomorrow
arg! i shall destry these if i can ever get them out

 

put a socket over it and tap it with a hammer before putting the compressor on the spring.

 

finally got it off, now i just can't get the retainers in there

 

spent four and a half hours with 3 different valve spring compressors. i just can't get those locks on it. someone please enlighten me. i am just trying to put the LT4 valve springs in there

 

What type of spring comressor you're using? What procedure are you following? And what is the problem you're facing?
These single spring should be a piece of cake to install...are you sure the valve is fully closed?

 

Are you talking about the retainers or the keepers? The spring retainers sit on top of the springs and the keepers are those two little metal pieces that go around the valve stem and get wedged by the retainer. Sounds like your talking about the keepers if I had to guess. They should just go right on the grooves and then you let out the compressor and they should be held in by the retainers. Am I on the same page as you?

 

A good little trick i use on the locks, is get it started, put a flat screwdriver on it, and give it a little tap. Sometimes if the spring isnt centered perfectly over the valve, only one will go in easily. Doing what i just described with push it in and center the spring.

 

the keepers/locks. i don't know. i did everything, did the thing with the screwdriver, put them in, i really just am stumped. my friend whom goes to UTI by me and has done this multiple times was stumped as well.

 

as ofr right now i only have the springs removed on cylinder number 1, but on both of those valves it is a problem

 

i had that problem too, i just loosened the compressor, grabbed a big deep socket and a hammer and beat on each one several times and never had a problem again

 

iv'e never had a problem. I couldn't tell you how many springs, retainers and keepers iv'e took off and installed. Sounds like there may be something you are not doing quite right. Like sssalah said, what spring compressor are you using? Are you compressing the spring enough? Maybe try a dab of grease to help them stick to the valve stem before releasing the compressor

 

I would HIGHLY NOT recommend beating on the head or valves with ANY object. The head is a VERY precise piece of equiptment. You HAVE to be gentle with it. If those keepers arn't just poping on, then there is something wrong. I can't even imagin how there would, or could be a problem. You press the spring and the retainer down with the compressor, put some motor oil on the keeper groves to help hold the keepers in place, PLACE the two keepers in the groves, and release the spring compressor. That should be it. It should be as easy as it sounds. But again, I cannot stress enough.... DO NOT HAMMER ON THE HEAD. Have another person take a look at it. Good luck.

 

Where in Tempe are you?

If you need hand LMK

Eric

 

When we did them on a 89 full size 350 blazer we used the air compressor with a spark plug fitting to air up the cylinder and then used a socket and a mallet. That worked for us just fine ,some of them took a few beatings before coming loose. Those were iron heads though so I don't know if it would damage the aluminum heads! Just make sure your compressor has enough volume or you might drop a valve As for the retainers I would get a rocker shaft mount so you can fully compress the spring with out the little jaws other spring compressors have.

 

i have used the lever type compressor, and a powerbuilt screw type. i have got the spring compressed as much as i can. i just can't get those keepers on there. they don't want to stay on