valve spring compressors

[Vic Norman]

>
> Where can I get my hands on a valve spring compressor that
> will work on my
> 5KTQ head.
>
> I havea sears one, but it cant reach down deep enought to do
> the job. I did
> manage to get all the valves out today by using my O2 sensor
> socket as an
> extension tube. But I have no chance of doing the same to put
> them back in
> once I am done porting.
>
> I have been searching the web for a while tonight and have
> seen a system
> that uses rails and a cam over lever which looks nice, but
> how do I hold the
> valves up? do I have to bolt clamp the head face down to the
> bench with a
> shim to hold the valves into the combustion chamber.
>
> Anyway- if anyone knows how to do this that would be good.
>
> Timmmy
>

I have an old Sears drill press in my garage that works perfectly for
removing valves. Buy a piece of plastic plumbing pipe that will fit the
valve recess, cut a  window in the side of it so that you can see what
you're doing and you're ready to go. The drill press easily compresses the
valve spring, using the pipe as a spacer, and you can then tighten the
press's pinch bolt and you will have both hands available to play with those
%$#@#@ little keepers. This assumes that you have the head off the engine of
course...
Old drill presses can be picked up quite cheaply (I think I paid $50 for
mine) and as an extra benefit - you can actually drill holes in things when
you aren't playing with cylinder heads.

Vic Norman  1996 A4