Opinions on valve spring compressor tools please
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 7,727
Likes: 7
From: Twilight zone
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Opinions on valve spring compressor tools please
Hi,
Can anyone tell me the best one to get?
I was thinking there would be a complete kit somewhere that included whatever fittings needed,or whatnot ,to hold the valves in place with air during the process .
I can't seem to find one in my searches,I may not be looking for it under the right name I guess
Anyone have any insight for me?
I think I want to use the compressed air method to do the change
Thanks guys!
Can anyone tell me the best one to get?
I was thinking there would be a complete kit somewhere that included whatever fittings needed,or whatnot ,to hold the valves in place with air during the process .
I can't seem to find one in my searches,I may not be looking for it under the right name I guess
Anyone have any insight for me?
I think I want to use the compressed air method to do the change
Thanks guys!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,251
Likes: 16
From: Phoenix Arizona
yes
yeah hard to find answer..i know it took me awhile. get the crane cam valve tool. real sweet and saves you hours of time and get a hi pressure air hose to put in your spark plug hole to keep valve from falling out.
this is my next project also! G/L
Vinci High Performance sells both. I like the Crane tool, a very controlled way of changing out springs and seals
this is my next project also! G/L
Vinci High Performance sells both. I like the Crane tool, a very controlled way of changing out springs and seals
Last edited by rustyguns; Apr 17, 2007 at 10:26 PM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 7,727
Likes: 7
From: Twilight zone
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Well,what do you use in the plug socket exactly, so you don't accidentally bump and depressurize the cylinder?
Doesn't anyone sell an adaptor of some kind like this??
I love overkill,and hate leaving things to chance
Thanks for the heads up on the comp cam tool....I will look into it
Edit:I just checked vinci's website and I think that is exactly what I was looking for!!!!They do seem to have both!...............Awesome!
Thanks Rusty Guns!
Doesn't anyone sell an adaptor of some kind like this??
I love overkill,and hate leaving things to chance
Thanks for the heads up on the comp cam tool....I will look into it
Edit:I just checked vinci's website and I think that is exactly what I was looking for!!!!They do seem to have both!...............Awesome!
Thanks Rusty Guns!
Last edited by flynbya2; Apr 17, 2007 at 10:43 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,251
Likes: 16
From: Phoenix Arizona
Well,what do you use in the plug socket exactly, so you don't accidentally bump and depressurize the cylinder?
Doesn't anyone sell an adaptor of some kind like this??
I love overkill,and hate leaving things to chance
Thanks for the heads up on the comp cam tool....I will look into it
Edit:I just checked vinci's website and I think that is exactly what I was looking for!!!!They do seem to have both!...............Awesome!
Thanks Rusty Guns!
Doesn't anyone sell an adaptor of some kind like this??
I love overkill,and hate leaving things to chance
Thanks for the heads up on the comp cam tool....I will look into it
Edit:I just checked vinci's website and I think that is exactly what I was looking for!!!!They do seem to have both!...............Awesome!
Thanks Rusty Guns!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Crane...QQcmdZViewItem
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,251
Likes: 16
From: Phoenix Arizona
Well,what do you use in the plug socket exactly, so you don't accidentally bump and depressurize the cylinder?
Doesn't anyone sell an adaptor of some kind like this??
I love overkill,and hate leaving things to chance
Thanks for the heads up on the comp cam tool....I will look into it
Edit:I just checked vinci's website and I think that is exactly what I was looking for!!!!They do seem to have both!...............Awesome!
Thanks Rusty Guns!
Doesn't anyone sell an adaptor of some kind like this??
I love overkill,and hate leaving things to chance
Thanks for the heads up on the comp cam tool....I will look into it
Edit:I just checked vinci's website and I think that is exactly what I was looking for!!!!They do seem to have both!...............Awesome!
Thanks Rusty Guns!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Crane...QQcmdZViewItem
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,251
Likes: 16
From: Phoenix Arizona
Well,what do you use in the plug socket exactly, so you don't accidentally bump and depressurize the cylinder?
Doesn't anyone sell an adaptor of some kind like this??
I love overkill,and hate leaving things to chance
Thanks for the heads up on the comp cam tool....I will look into it
Edit:I just checked vinci's website and I think that is exactly what I was looking for!!!!They do seem to have both!...............Awesome!
Thanks Rusty Guns!
Doesn't anyone sell an adaptor of some kind like this??
I love overkill,and hate leaving things to chance
Thanks for the heads up on the comp cam tool....I will look into it
Edit:I just checked vinci's website and I think that is exactly what I was looking for!!!!They do seem to have both!...............Awesome!
Thanks Rusty Guns!
http://www.vincihighperformance.com/...NT%20PAGE.HTML
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
I bought mine from Joe Vinci as well (Crane tool) and it is the best one out there. It fits perfect and was designed for the f-body where you can't see the back springs on the motor. I didn't use the air method for holding up the valves (had a problem with this once) and instead used the TCD method. However, I also have a borescope so finding TDC on each cylinder was easy for me. The old rope trick works as well and I have used this many times, just not on the LS1.
Bottom line, get the tool from Vinci, it is the best one out there and the few bucks you save on a cheaper one is not worth it. One other note, most performance springs have a surface treatment, the spring tools that grab the spring coils will scratch them and shorten spring life, avoid them.
Bottom line, get the tool from Vinci, it is the best one out there and the few bucks you save on a cheaper one is not worth it. One other note, most performance springs have a surface treatment, the spring tools that grab the spring coils will scratch them and shorten spring life, avoid them.
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,384
Likes: 8
From: Southwest Virginia
I also bought the Crane tool and really like the way it works.
The only problem I had with the tool was it would not fit the AFR heads I bought. The stud bosses on the AFR heads were too large to fit in the hole milled in the tool. I simply mounted the tool in a mill and increased the size of the hole in the tool and it solved the problem. New tools may have this already done.
The only problem I had with the tool was it would not fit the AFR heads I bought. The stud bosses on the AFR heads were too large to fit in the hole milled in the tool. I simply mounted the tool in a mill and increased the size of the hole in the tool and it solved the problem. New tools may have this already done.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 7,727
Likes: 7
From: Twilight zone
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Ok ,I am sold....Crane tool it is!
One more question about use of that tool,(which I am sure will be apparant when I get to it),But it looks as though you have to remove the rocker arm studs to use this tool?Is that so?
It seems they give you bolts,and that has to thread somewhere....
Obviously this will be my first time doing this,but I have no reservations about doing so,I just gotta get to it
Any tips you guys could offer up will be appreciated
Thanks to everyone who replied...........This is why this forum is so GREAT!!!!
One more question about use of that tool,(which I am sure will be apparant when I get to it),But it looks as though you have to remove the rocker arm studs to use this tool?Is that so?
It seems they give you bolts,and that has to thread somewhere....
Obviously this will be my first time doing this,but I have no reservations about doing so,I just gotta get to it
Any tips you guys could offer up will be appreciated
Thanks to everyone who replied...........This is why this forum is so GREAT!!!!
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,762
Likes: 0
The LS1 does not use rocker studs, just a bolt. You will need to remove the rockers and the mount rail before you start. One tip I can give is to place a socket over the valve and give each a good tap with a hammer before using the crane tool. When I didn't do this the retainers didn't want to break loose and I would depressurize the cylinder every time.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 7,727
Likes: 7
From: Twilight zone
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
The LS1 does not use rocker studs, just a bolt. You will need to remove the rockers and the mount rail before you start. One tip I can give is to place a socket over the valve and give each a good tap with a hammer before using the crane tool. When I didn't do this the retainers didn't want to break loose and I would depressurize the cylinder every time.
Like I said,I haven't done it before
Now I feel dumb
Hey, Thanks for that tip,that makes sense to me
Thought I read something about tapping the valves AFTER the install too,to seat the locks? I will learn as I go
