Valve spring question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 377
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Valve spring question
While out driving the other day, I pulled up to an intersection, and all of a sudden the car started running like #@&*. Just out of the blue. No weird sounds, nothing.
Well, upon further investigation I find that I broke a valve spring. Question is, can this be done on the vechicle, or do I have to pull the head.
Thanks...
Well, upon further investigation I find that I broke a valve spring. Question is, can this be done on the vechicle, or do I have to pull the head.
Thanks...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Semper ubi, sub ubi
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Re: Valve spring question (Jon69L46)
Yes you can do it on the car. You can either hold the valves up with air pressure using an spark plug adapter, or you can take a thin piece of nylon cord (1/4" in diameter) and feed as much as possible thru the spark plug hole. That piston should be close to TDC, so you don't have to feed in 30 feet of cord to keep the valves from dropping down. All you'll probably need is about 18 inches to 24 inches of cord.
Then use a lever type valve spring compressor to compress the spring and remove the keepers. Put on a new spring and compress the new spring and install the keepers. Pull out the cord, readjust the rockers, replace the spark plug and rocker cover and fire it up.
I will suggest that since you broke one spring, the rest of the springs are probably suspect and should be replaced. Doing these one at a time with the cord is a painful process that could consume most of the day. You might check with a garage and ask how much they would charge to replace all your springs (without pulling the heads.)
Good Luck
Then use a lever type valve spring compressor to compress the spring and remove the keepers. Put on a new spring and compress the new spring and install the keepers. Pull out the cord, readjust the rockers, replace the spark plug and rocker cover and fire it up.
I will suggest that since you broke one spring, the rest of the springs are probably suspect and should be replaced. Doing these one at a time with the cord is a painful process that could consume most of the day. You might check with a garage and ask how much they would charge to replace all your springs (without pulling the heads.)
Good Luck
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
Re: Valve spring question (Smokehouse69)
Thanks for the response Smokehouse, pretty much as I envisioned it. I have a small air-comp. that should be adequate to do the job. I plan on doing some renewal this fall/winter so I was hoping I could get it running for just now.
Jon
Jon
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: South San Francisco CA
Re: Valve spring question (Jon69L46)
The first thing I did when I got my '69 in 1970 was to change the valve springs. I put in set of TRWs and they are still there. Big blocks had the worst valve springs ever made. The TRWs have been just fine. You don't have to pull the heads to change them.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Brazos TX
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Re: Valve spring question (Jon69L46)
You can get an air hold fitting at http://www.powerhouseproducts.com/st...Code=POW301020 or probably at a local auto parts store. Same with the spring compressor
The air hold tool looks like this
The air hold tool looks like this
Drifting
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,462
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From: Reno nevada
Re: Valve spring question (Jon69L46)
If one broke another might go any day also. I would buy a whole set and just replace them all. Your risking major motor damage if a valve gets bent. I've done the on the motor change. Get some help from someone familiar with how to do it. Place nice lint free cloth in all the oil return holes. Just in case, God forbid you drop a keeper where it shouldn't go.
