I need to do a valve spring change on my 6.0 and wanted to know what removal tool would be best to remove the springs with the heads off. I have seen a couple like the proform, comp cams tools but I don't know if I can only use those tools with the heads on? Thanks for any info. I would also be willing to rent someones tool. Let me know thanks.

 

Proform and Comp Cams both make one for use with the heads on the engine. I bought the Proform one my self because of price and I didn't care for the design of the comp cams.

I believe Trick flow's is the cheapest priced one on the market and the LSM version would be the highest.

There are several on the market for use with heads on the engine. You will need to pressurize the cylinder with compressed air to keep the valve up while changing the springs.

Some company's are universal and some are more specific to the application.

Comp Cams 5462 for LS1-LS7
Crane Cams 99475-1 for LS3/L92
Crane Cams 99472-1 for LS1/LS2/LS6
Crane Cams 99473-1 For LT1/V6
LSM SC-167 for LS1-LS7
Proform 67605 for LS1-LS7
Trick Flow Specialties TFS-90306 for LS1/LS2/LS6
Trick Flow Specialties TFS-90307 for LS3/L92

If you want to take the heads off the engine and do it you would use a C clamp style compressor which most of the same vendors also offer as well.

 

Thanks for replying. I already have the heads off due to the lifters needing replacement. I had 4 bad lifters. I was going to do the spring swap myself but I pulled the camshaft out and the cam bearings are worn out copper is showing . So I might as well just pull the motor and have it freshened up since I am pretty sure the rod and main bearing are in the same shape due to the mileage. The motor is in my work truck 2001 2500HD and has 298,000 miles so I expected this engine to look bad but it wasn't it was really clean in the oil pan the heads were spotless and the tops of the pistons had no carbon build up at all. I was shocked. But then again I dump a bottle of seafoam in the tank once a month. Maybe the stuff works?lol

 

It does help!!!

If there already off the C-frame style is what you need. might be better to let the machine shop do it when the go through the rest of it. Wouldn't hurt to clean the bowls up either.

BTW copper showing on the factory cam bearings is actually pretty normal on these engines.

 

Haha Another high mile clean looking LS engine!!!

Yeah Like Joe said save your money and have the machine shop do it, or buy the comp cams or trick flow one for LS engines.

Ive used the good old Crane cams LS piece on and off the engine (very similar to the ones above) and it worked great. I like bieng able to do two springs at a time!

 

I rented mine from O'reillys. It's a C-shaped one that makes it really easy to compress the springs with the heads off.

You can use the ones that bolt to the rocker mounts too, but it takes longer than a c-shaped one.

 

I use one similar to that as well.