I'm going to be swapping cams and will be changing the springs as well. My brother said he can do the springs I just need to get an air compressor and take out the spark plugs.. My question is, the driver side won't be bad it looks like, but it looks like the passenger side with headers might be a pain in the @ss. Anyone done this with headers, would I be able to do the last few from underneath the car? I hope I don't have to take the header off, cause I just did that last week to change a gasket.

 

Don't know which headers you have but I did mine.
Some cylinders are more of a challenge than others to get the
rubber air line starteed in the spark plug hole while curving around the header tube. Use three hands if nessessary. If you find one that is just impossible,
try using a 3/8" nylon rope stuffed in the cylinder.
Then rotate the crank by hand till the rope is wedged up against the valves, holding them closed.

Loosen off both rockers for that cylinder so both valves remain
closed while doing this. Be sure to leave ample rope hanging out of the spark plug hole so you can remove it.

Find ,get ,buy this tool to compress the valve spring.
forget the other "knuckle buster" designs.
This one is Cuss and swear free.

 

Thanks for all the help. I fear the #8 cylinder is going to be a pain in the butt. I have Edelbrock headers. My brother said he has all the tools necsessary cept the air compressor. I'm hoping my Dad has a small one, I know he has a huge one, but obvisouly that won't work.

 

I second F-bird, the rope trick is a life saver. It helps to have more than one way available of doing something.

 

Thanks guys, I'll run that option by my brother and see if he's ever heard of it. So, basically the rope is like what the air compressor does and keeps the valves from falling?

 

Yes, you loosen the rockers off, push a good length of rope into the cylinder (leave a good length hanging out too).
then turn the crank **by hand** to raise the piston up. That wedges the rope against the valves. Then you can easily compress the vale spring with that tool without fear of the valve falling.

You earn your *Master Mechanic Degree* when you master juggling those little oily slippery valve locks while holding the spring tool
with the other hand. A friends' third hand helps. It's actually not that big of a deal. Good Luck...

 

Before I call Comp I'll check to see if you guys know. Will these Comp Springs work.

1.250 diameter, up to .490 lift the 268XE is 480/480,
110# @1.700 closed, 2.850 open

 

Yes they will work if installe at 1.70/1.72" installed height.

Are those the recommended pn #981?

Give Comp Cams a call tommorow anyways. They are lonely down there, and don't get out much...

Seriously don't hesitate to call the cam manufacures
with your questions. There are no dumb questions.
They pay guys to sit and answer the phone and type on the internet all day, just to answer your product questions.

They are the experts on their products and want you to use them successfully. Give 'em a call.

 

I seriously hate talking on phones, so I avoid them whenever I can.