hey, just got myself a set of comp 981 springs with 1.6 rockers, and the locks and retainers for the springs.

Anyhow, I read through the directions in all of my manuals, but I think I still need a bit of help with the fine points. Does anyone have a good diagram or anything of how these all go together? I just want to make sure there will be no suprises when I start this. For instance, how do the locks go in?

Secondly, if you look at the picture I have attatched, you will see the smaller spring inside, and how it does not go all the way through.. Which way must these springs be installed?


Thanks.

 

there is no top or bottom with them. with valve in head, and postive or umbrella seal in place if you use them then in this order install:
spring
retainer
o ring seal if you use it
keepers

 

The "locks" or keepers are the two halves that are to go the top of the stems, once the spring is compressed with a valve spring compressor. Use a little bit of Vasoline on them to hold them in place, while you let the springs go and the springs will set against them. Then a simple tap with a ball peen hammer will seat them when the pressure is released.

 

AH ok that makes sense. One thing though: ede, you said an o-ring seal if I use it, could you clarify that please?

 

I'm not ede, but perhaps I can clarify a bit. An o-ring seal is just that, an o-ring. Upon disassembly, notice on your valves you will see 2 grooves going around the top. These are the lock grooves and the O-ring grooves. It's basically a small rubber crappy pointless ring that circles the top of the valve. If you run the posi-type seals such as the kind offered by Fel-Pro (the only kind, to my knowledge, that doesn't require machine work on the guide bosses) then thats all you need. Only 1 form of oil control around the valve is required, esp. with posi. seals.



There's a picture of how things go. Notice the 2 grooves drawn on the valve. The upper being the lock groove, the lower being for the seal. If you go with the posi's, just be carefull of the inner surface of the seal. The grooves on the valve CAN be very sharp. Sharp enough to damage the sealing surface (which would be bad). Lightly coat the valve stem and inner surface with a bit of oil to help them slide on.

 

Ok, thanks very much. I hadnt bought seals yet, so I guess I'll go out today and do that. Thanks a lot for all the help.

 

Ok, one more question.. I got myself some seals today, but the ones for the intake valves are different than the ones for the exhaust... First of all, wtf?

Second of all, how do I tell the intake valves from the exhaust if the heads dont come off?

 

Look at the ports on the intake, where they bolt up to the heads. The valves that line up with those are the intakes.

Then look at the ports on the exhaust manifold. Same deal.

EIIEEIIE

 

Oh ok, that makses sense. I didnt htink it would be that simple. Thanks.

 

.

 

I was thinking the same questions.
Good answers

 

Oh, and let me tell you..Now that I am done, yeah, it was SO easy.

Well, sort of done. I finished the driver side bank, doing the other one this weekend.

 

Whats the install height of those springs vs what your taking out? If you install them, at a height other than rated you'll end up with more or less pressure.

-- Joe

 

The install height is just a hiar or so higher. If I had opted not to use those cap-like things that were on the stock springs it would have been a tad lower, and my mechanics instructer told me to just install them so they were a bit higher as opposed to lower...

 

Your mechanic just instructed you to insall the springs so they will have less pressure than they are suposed to.

Whats the recommended height vs what you need to do?

I'd get some shims.

-- Joe

 

shims? nonono.. the new ones are higher than the old ones.

 

Ok,

What is the recommended install height of the new springs, and what will the install height be when you install them?

-- Joe