i was changing my springs in my head today (****y afr ones float at 5800) and i noticed all my pushrods had a groove all the way around them about 1/16th in deep or less. when i got the heads i went from self aligning to nonself aligning with guide plates. I was wondering it this is normal or do i need harder pushrods or somthin.

also how do u keep the dang valve from going down when u compress the spring so u can get the valve locks out?

Yes there are pushrods that are designated "harder for use with guideplates" For about $30 bucks Summit sells Comp Pushrods for guideplates.

As for the valves, are the heads on the car or off? If they are on theres a few ways, either way involves pulling the spark plug. The first way is to use compressed air. There is a fitting you can get that allows you to screw a nozzle in to the plug hole and inject air. This applies a higher pressure below the springs which overrides the gravitational pull that causes them to fall. The other way, a simpler, more economical way, is to get a length of nylon cord and just shove it in until you cant push it in anymore. Of course leave a tag end so you can pull it out. This places a solid object under the valve which blocks the downward path.

Now if the heads are OFF the car, there is a special "C" clamp that applies pressure to the bottom/center of the spring which pushes up and the compressor part pushes down.

You can get a small spring compressor also, maybe rent/borrow one from a parts store. You'll still have to use the compressed air to keep the valve seated and have the piston up to the top (just incase air pressure goes bye bye) Just twist the **** on the spring compressor and pull the keepers out with a magnet.

btw, I haven't noticed any valve float and I'm using the supplied springs from AFR. I've run the engine up to 7k, without a problem.

you need hardened push rods and it might not hurt to check the clearance around the guide plates

thanks guys maybe i need more air pressure i tried that and the valve just went down anyway and i could hear all the air just go out my exaust.

Use rope. That's never a problem with that method.

As already said, you have to have hardened pushrods to run w/ guideplates. If not then you will toast some pushrods. I like the rope method. Then you really have no way of dropping the valve, cause it has nowhere to fall.