Hey man, I have that spring tool that you can borrow if you need to. Sorry I didn't reply to your PM earlier....I haven't been on since Friday. I wish I could give you a hand....I'm tied up for the next two or three weekends. Let me know though when you're ready to give it another go, and if I'm free I'll come give you a hand.

 

I don't remember those bolts being excessively tight...although I think I remember moving a harness out of the way? If you're using a 1/4" rachet, step up to 3/8 and they should break loose pretty easily.

Totally do the job in a shop with air, it makes life so much easier

 

I have the same type except its snap on brand so it cost a little more I'm sure, but I haven't had any problem with mine. But your forearms start to burn after a while, especially with some stout springs.

 

which valve springs do you have. some valve springs require new seats, seals, retainers, and locks. i think most dual springs do.

 

ok here is mine. total cost of tools-50.00. the puller is a cheapo that has worked for several cam swaps with no problems. magnets work greatand my spring compressor is a freebie.

 

From my experience when I tore my motor down, the best way to get those two bolts out at the bottom of the timing cover is to get in there with a 10mm rachet wrench. If you don't have one, get one, its such a common bolt size on these trucks that you will use it all the time.

Also, sorry to hear about your problems with your cam install. I was so proud of myself after doing my cam/head install by myself until about 5 min. into the breakin procedure and one of my cam bearing failed, locked the cam, broke the timing chain, and bent a bunch of valves. At least you didn't have to change the motor in your truck.

 

hah, no joke bro. Im gonna grab my dad's ratchet wrench next time. It was a stressful *** day for me and it got to me so I canned it. But next time Im gettin up hella early and Im gonna bang that **** out.

 

Im lookin to maybe give it another go weekend after next at a buddie's, he has a compressor and can maybe get an air gun for that harmonic balancer bolt.. I can do it by hand but its a bitch. I donno, I just need someone else who knows vaguely what they're doing and I can give em a ratchet and say have at it on the other side of the valves. I think that's gonna take the longest since Im gonna do the top-dead center method. But I donno. I gotta hear from him by like tomorrow or somethin. Maybe someone will get free and we can really get it done. Let me know if anyone has some free time or suggestions, I guess I could wait a couple more weeks?

 

I also have the air tool that you hook up to the spark plug holes to pressurize the cylinder when you're doing the spring swap. Weekend after next won't work for me. I'm out of town this coming weekend and I'm having surgery on my ankle on Friday March 14 so I'll be out of commission that weekend as well. Beyond that depends on how I'm feeling. I'm not supposed to put any weight on it, and I'm sure I wouldn't be much help hobbling around on crutches

 

Worth its weight in gold