changing valve springs w/heads installed, how?

[V]

ok, i will soon need to chage out my set of valvesprings to a better set and i refuse to pull the heads, so how do i go about changing them? The one procedure i saw was to put like 15psi of air in the cylider and chage those 2 vales springs, then move to a different cylinder, Is that the best way? or the only way? lol. if so, where do I get a air fitting that screws into the sprak plug hole, and can i just use a bicycle foot pump to fill the air since i dont have my compressor yet? I also assume i'll need to get a valvespring tool that bolts where the rockers go so i can compress the springs. any specific advice/help would be appreciated, oh and for all intents and purposes its an LSx based engine.

also does anyone have a late model GM valvespring compressor i can borrow or rent.. it is $100 from summit, screw that

[1QWIKBIRD]

ok, i will soon need to chage out my set of valvesprings to a better set and i refuse to pull the heads, so how do i go about changing them? The one procedure i saw was to put like 15psi of air in the cylider and chage those 2 vales springs, then move to a different cylinder, Is that the best way? or the only way? lol. if so, where do I get a air fitting that screws into the sprak plug hole, and can i just use a bicycle foot pump to fill the air since i dont have my compressor yet? I also assume i'll need to get a valvespring tool that bolts where the rockers go so i can compress the springs. any specific advice/help would be appreciated, oh and for all intents and purposes its an LSx based engine.

also does anyone have a late model GM valvespring compressor i can borrow or rent.. it is $100 from summit, screw that


That's the only way to do it with the heads installed on the motor. And you will need a compressor to maintain the cylinder pressure just in case. Check ls1tech.com for the tool, someone make a nice one and I believe its cheaper than the summit job. You will also need the air inlet adapter for spark plug hole. Without the right tools, you will end up pulling the heads because a valve will drop. One trick is to bring the piston to tdc on that cyl so if the valve does drop it won't go far and maybe....just maybe you could pull it back up if it is still in the guide.....don't know if that trick actually work, but I've been told.....

You may have trouble with header clearance and the adapter fitting???

I've done this swap on SBC, but never and LSX motor.....

Chris

[V]

i'll have no header clearence issue, lol, the motor is out of the car and no exhaust bolted on it, I just dont want to unbolt the heads because then i gotta buy new head bolts.

i can get borrow a small compressor from my gf's dad so thatll be fine. i guess i gotta fidn that adapter and the tool.

Hell, the more i think about it, pulling the heads off and doing them that way may be cheaper. buying headbolts vs. tool and air fitting.... hmmm
oh yeah, the motor is brand new, no oil or antifreeze yet. just assembly lube on everything, lol.

[BonzoHansen]

I've done it on a SBC. What Chris said is the way. Some old timers will tell you you can put rope in the chamber, but I don't buy that one.

I made mine with the connectors & hose from my compression tester & an adapter or 2.

[foff667]

www.ls1howto.com

[amargari]

BozoHansen,
I have heard of the rope trick too for SBC/BBC.

[V]

ok, i'm gonna do it with the heads on, i got the 14mm air-hold fitting for the spark plug hole, and while at autozone today to get a 3 jaw puller i saw and picked up a basic valvespring compressor, both a mistake, lol. I first stripped out the center bolt on the puller only 5 mintues after i started using it, and then i tested the valve spring compressor out on a spare set of '00 ls1 heads and i broke the compressor, haha, i returned both tools and got my money back. So i finally just closed my eyes and opened my wallet, and ordered the "more" valve spring compressor tool from thunder racing, along with the JMR cam install tool that holds the lifters up. the tools are expensive but i dont wanna be messing around with half assed junk. And, i figure once i have the tools, they'll always be in my tool box for future swaps/projects and i would even consider renting them out to anyone looking to install their own cam/valvesprings without spending $200 on specialty tools... eh life goes on... lol

[ATVracer]

What springs and cam are going in?

You are on the right track now with the More tool and lifter retainer.
A good magnet to get the spring retainer locks will help out also.