+1

I had to use the rope method on a couple of cylinders and worked like a charm

Stay away from the crowbar style spring compressors. I made my own version of "Tim's tool" (try a search) and worked perfect.

 

i used the top dead center method and it worked fine. i didnt even put a piece of rope in but the valves would slip like 3/8" into the cylinder if you pressed down on them.

 

Whatever you do don't buy the tool that grabs the spring and you turn the top down. I spent four hours trying to use that tool and it was the biggest PITA ever. deffinatly buy a good quality valve spring tool. It will make your life alot easier.

 

My valve spring tool of choice... of course it helps to have the heads off

 

Yea, it's a little tough to use that one while in the truck lol. I'll be using a similar compressor when I swap on some 1218's since my heads are currently on a shelf...waiting patiently

 

Alright so i tackled this today and BROKE a rocker arm bolt!!! Anyone know who might have these other than the dealer????

I was able to get the broke part out of head. I must say this was more time consuming than i thought and the spring tool was too long for the back cylinders, since the firewall curves up opver the motor so i cut 4" of the tool and it worked great. Took about 4 hours!!

 

u ended up using the prybar style?

 

**** you have my luck.

I found some rocker bolts at the local salvage yard.

I endend up breaking another rocker bolt, trying to drill and tap the hole, and ended up having to buy another head.

But i have extra rocker bolts/arms now!