OK! i know they make dummy spark plugs to pressureize the valve cylender to hold valves up while you change the seals. Also i guess you can move the crank to TDC and do it that way. But my question is how do you remove the springs to get to the valve stem seals!?!

Im going to get the seals right now and i really want to do this tonight.

Look at my updated sig! that what my car looks like! hahahha

Well, a cheaper alternative is to stuff rope into the cylinder at bottom dead center, and bringing it up to TDC. Stuff the rop in through the spark plug hole, leaving enough rope to pull it out, and when the cylinder is brought back towards TDC, the valve will be held up by the rope. as for compressing the valve spring to pull the retainer, I don't have a simple answer for you. See if something like this can be used: http://neons.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=43871&highlight=valve+spring

Hope that some of this helps...
-=B-=

i got a question about bad vavle stems. does your car smoke all the time or just when it is not warmed up. i was looking at a car that was smoking white only when it was cold for a few min. then it would be invisible. the owner said he replaced the valves or something like that. he also told me he couldnt do a compression test on it for me because it "cant be done on a car with 16 valves". needless to say, i am not buying the car.

mine smokes after it idles for a minute and i start to go. while i drive it does not smoke at all. when its idleing it smokes just a little.


I dunno how the hell im going to compress the springs to the the retainers back on. I have never pulled valves from a head. That rope thing is a really good idea tho! How do you move the crank? turn the crank pully? I have the timing belt cover on it so i think the crank pully is covered. This is tonights project! Please help me dudes!!!

You can still get to the crank pulley bolt with the t-belt cover on. There is a little access panel in the fender well.

sweet. Now i just need to figure out how to remove the springs...

Do those clips come off? Is it hard to compress the springs down to replace the retainers?

another way to keep the valves from falling is to used compressed air. They make a attachment that u screw in where ur spark plug goes so when u take off the spring it doesnt fall.

they do make a tool called a valve spring compressor, you should find it at any auto store or hardware store. Try Napa, Carquest, or if all else fails you can rent/borrow one from autozone

I'm worried that the cyl will loose its compression and the valve will fall in! heh will a valve spring compressor work on our heads?

FUCK.

Just got a valve spring compressor and it wont fucking fit fuck.

looks like this is going to be an all weekend project.

if it starts to fall u can here air leaking and pull it back
it made for some tense moments but it works

hrm. how much pressure did you put in the cylenders?

This is the shit needed to remove the valve springs. Specal order from Miller tool 800 801 5420

valve spring compressor: MD998772A

adapter: 6779

Just the spring compressor it $213. fukdat. I'm screwed. The way they get them off on the neons SOHC wont work on the DOHC because thier is no fulcrum to push on. hrm. anyone have any input on this?

There is no small valve spring compressor that will work, there's not enough room to put it around the spring the head body gets in the way.. The only type I've seen that work are the c-clamp looking valve spring compressors, have to be used with the head off. I posted a thread in the general secton hoping some one had a lead on a good, cheap one.



15.9 @ 86.7mph

Una Salus Victus.

Mods List:
http://highlander.dsmpower.com/sig.htm

Yeah that would be nice, then at least i could repair the head on the motor i plan on puting in next week! ;(

like this one?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43998&item=2420830088

ebay 0wns. hah

Yes, except I don't think that will work either, the side wall of the head will be in the way of pushing down on the retainer the way that is set up. At least from the looks of it to me.

*edit* http://www.sears.com/sr/product/summary/productsummary.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@2086667811.1057008583@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccjiadcijmhdflmcehgcemgdffmdfko.0&vertical=SEARS&bidsite=CRAFT&pid=00947627000
This looks like it might have enough clearance... $20.



15.9 @ 86.7mph

Una Salus Victus.

Mods List:
http://highlander.dsmpower.com/sig.htm

Only $20! The web site says thier is on available at a store near my work so ill go grab it at lunch and let you know if it works. thanks!

Post and let us know if it's a go or not.



15.9 @ 86.7mph

Una Salus Victus.

Mods List:
http://highlander.dsmpower.com/sig.htm

Yeah i just called the store and the computer said its in, but they dont have any. So i ordered it. ill keep you posted.


edit:
BTW, i changed my oil and put in some STP smoke treatment and the smoking is virtually gone! Seems to work better than the lucas stuff i used. :thumbsup

I just had a thought... why couldnt you weld a fork, that fits over the spring reatiner, onto the end of a long rod. Then, with the fork in position on the retainer, weld on 2 pieces of pipe that are near the same diameter as the camshaft at the exact location where they would fit into the cam journal. Then just place the 2 pieces of pipe into the cam journal and tighten the caps down on them. now you basically have a large lever that you can use to compress the spring. If you do that with the cylinders pressurized, the valves should stay put and you could change the stem seals without popping the head. I would think that this type of tool would make it much easier to put the springs back on as well.

Just so you know, that style valve spring compressor is a BITCH to use with our head. I would up making a jig for my head to hold the valve springs perpindicular to the ground. Then I used a drill press with an adaptor to compress the springs. Use a lot of grease to hold the keepers in place on the valve while you bring the retainer up with the spring compressor (or drill press).

Also, getting the springs off is the easy part. You can just take a socket that fits nicely on the top of the retainer and wack it with a hammer and the keepers will fall out and the retainer will slide off. It's getting it back assembled that is usually the problem.

yeah well i got that spring compressor from sears today. It does not work, but i think it would if i bend up the fork. Im runnin on an empty tank so i dont feel like messing with it today.

As for your idea that may work, but i was looking at where the cams go in and i dont think thier will be enough leverage to do it. Im just going to work on the head for the new motor and hope this motor dosent die before I am ready to put in the new one. And i really hope I get it in before the shootout! :wary

Matt check this out! Just found this on vfaq.com

http://www.vfaq.com/mods/Valvespring-compressor.html

The guy used that compressor and welded 2 sockets to it. I wonder if i can jb weld it. heh

Hey i tried that out ^^^, the thing in my previous post. and it works great! I used the black fork (with the angle) and cut a spark plug socket with a roto zip cutoff wheel. Then i tightened the fork onto the hex top of the spark plug socket so that it would hold!

I got about 4 valve stem seals changed in about an hour, includeing figuring out how to do it. Then it got dark, so ill finnish it up today. I'm stoked.

wow that's awesome news got any pictures? I don't really trust my welding skills though O_o, so you can get this compressor at sears eh? Looks like I just might have to go and do this. What about the cylinder compressor (The fitting that screws into the sparkplug hole from the compressor) fitting where'd you get that?