has anyone changed their valve springs without pulling the heads? we started the cam swap about midnight last night and got the cam in and decided to finish this afternoon...well we got in there to change the springs and it looks like the back two on both banks will be a bitch to get a spring compressor into...just wondering if anyone had any tips on how to do so, or a special tool to use. also much thanks to Richard AKA:BigTex...he sold me the cam and springs and had some good advice for the install. good guy with a damn nice looking truck. thanks in advance guys.

Matt

 

So the cam is in now? Good.

You don't need to pull the heads.

Don't know what type of spring compressor you are using. I rented one from O'reilleys that would work. It is a hand turning one, not a lever based compressor. It should reach back there. There are other compressors that have a bolt on top, that you can attach an air wrench or ratchet to. Good luck. Seem like you have the hardest part done now.

 

well, we pulled it cuz we couldn't figure out how to use the compressor in the limited space, we got a lever kind and i don't know how to keep the valve from falling when we pull the spring off...what is the best technique? for now i'm gonna have to go back to the stocker until i can figure out how to change the springs easily.

Matt

 

remove the sprk plug for each cyl.and connect a compression test line into it. use an air compressor topump air into the cyl. itll push th piston down, and the valves up, you dont hve to pull the heads, and its fast and easy. once the vlve covers are off, it shouldnt take but 45min to do all eight cyl's. good luck
J

 

this should do exactly what you want

go here

<small>[ December 07, 2002, 09:31 PM: Message edited by: OOsilverado ]</small>

 

ok...here's the latest as of 10:45 saturday night...all my buddies bailed on me tonight for a big party <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" /> . so i put everything back together and it's all stock right now <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" /> . couldn't figure out the spring thing <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" /> ...and since i was all alone i didn't want to go all the way. i'll go monday and get that thing you are talking about to screw into the plug hole. i couldn't get that site to load up...thanks though.if any of you have any other tips as to how i need to approach this situation when i attempt the swap again. i'll probably be thursday before i get a free evening and next morning to make the swap. if there is anyone in the fort worth area that would be interested in possibly helping out or supervising then let me know...or if anyone is looking to do this mod but wants to see it done first is invited whenever it happens again. the more the marrier.but anyone here when it's done will witness one hellacious burnout celebration...and will see me <img border="0" alt="[Fluffy]" title="" src="graemlins/fluffy.gif" /> around like a crackhead. <img border="0" alt="[guns]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_guns.gif" /> springs

Matt

 

I'll be doing an LS6 swap in the near future. Not sure if I'm going to try it myself or have someone do it. Let me know how it turns out.

 

will do man...i can't wait to do this. a friend of mine did an SS camaro cam swap into a stock 5.3 with basic exhaust and hpp3. and he says it pulls like a monster...so i can only imagine with this bigger cam and good springs and more mods i will definatly be very happy.

 

I know a guy that just did it and he loves it. I think he was going to dyno it today at LG Motorsports.

 

so you've got the cam in and left the stock springs in until you can change them. you're not driving the truck are you? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" />