I rented a valve spring compressor from autozone and was able to use it on all my springs except the one spring under the cowl on the passengers side. Is the KD tool the only one which is short enough? Can you only buy it online or has someone got it at a auto store? I tried autozone,murphys, advanced.

 

anyone ever used this one and is it short enough? http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...tnumber=T70032

 

http://www.thunderracing.com/catalog/summaries/s526.jpg
http://www.thunderracing.com/catalog...&vid=4&pcid=17

Part # Product Price
40-99473-1 Crane Cams Valve Spring Compressor, 1957-1996 SBC including LT1/LT4, Chevrolet 200-229-4.3L 90° V6 $114.99

 

114! the hell w/ that. I saw a KD tool on ebay for 9 bucks.

 

The crane tool is definatly worth every penny, it made doing valve springs easy as hell. I think I got mine from byunspeed for 107 shipped.

 

Well I dunno about quoting ebay prices, but for something that allows me not to have to worry about clearance issues and not taking the head off. 100 Bucks would be worth it.

 

I bought the bar type compressor and cut some of the handle off but then there wasn't enough leverage to compress the spring. BUT if you compress the spring by bolting it down on the rocker stud with a nut it works like a charm.

 

I got the KD compressor at Napa

 

I have the crane tool in my tool box and it works great. The only real complaint is sometimes if you try to take just one spring off at a time the pressure of the single spring will cause the tool to bind when you loosen the top nut up. Its still much easier than any other tool i've seen/used.