I finally got a chance to put my cam in and now I have to replace valve springs...a friend of mine gave me the tool to do it on the car and the compressor fitting for the spark plug socket. My question is what is the procedure for changing springs and valve seals how do you remove the retainers, locks, and seals. I have never done this before and it is a great time to learn. I would ask my friend who lent me the tools but he is on vacation for two weeks and he inherited alot of great tools but not much knoledge to go along with them. Any help would be appreciated.

 

remove plug, insert air fitting and apply air preasure to hold the valves up. compress spring a nd the keepers will pretty much fall out, you'll have to dig them out, use a pick up magnet, remove retainer and spring. i'd use an umbrella valve seal so put it on next, then spring, then retainer, then o ring seal then keepers and move on to the next cylinder. you have to compress the new spring before you put it on.

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ICON Motorsports

1st & 3rd
MM Black Diamond Lodge 538 F&AM

 

The retainer may not come off so easily, though. On my friends ford the retainers were freakin stuck to the keepers. I recommend taking a socket that fits right on the retainer, but doesnt press on the keepers and hammering on it a few times. the keepers should "climb up" inside the retainer a bit. When they have moved up a bit, it makes it much easier to get the keepers off when you compress the spring.

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1983 Firebird
TH700R4 Auto
Small Block 400
LG4 ECM, Intake, Carb, Distributor, etc.
Soon to be non-computer.
Clarion Head Unit 45X4
2 Pioneer 400W 12" Subs
Third Gen Performance
"A four cylinder is half an engine."