Make your own valve spring compressor for $15 - Page 17 - 3000GT/Stealth International Message Center

Thrashpipe · 07-14-2008, 08:38 PM

Alright guys FR1DAY you said you just did your VSS. I just tore my valve covers back off today to see if what i was thinking was correct (i hoped not) well evidently i didnt hope hard enough because the valve seals on the exaust side of the rear bank has 5 of the 6 seals that did not "Seat" and are all at the top most point on the stem , of course creating my smoke bomb.

Now my question to you FR1DAY , is when you were seating your stems do they make a click or snap noise or feel? because all the ones i put down didnt do anything they just went down untill it felt like they stopped. is there any special way of doing it other then getting them straight? please let me know because this is the last time ide like to have to do it for a long time. thanks in advance.

jrod · 07-21-2008, 12:34 PM

.........

mike92stealthtt · 07-21-2008, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thrashpipe

Alright guys FR1DAY you said you just did your VSS. I just tore my valve covers back off today to see if what i was thinking was correct (i hoped not) well evidently i didnt hope hard enough because the valve seals on the exaust side of the rear bank has 5 of the 6 seals that did not "Seat" and are all at the top most point on the stem , of course creating my smoke bomb.

Now my question to you FR1DAY , is when you were seating your stems do they make a click or snap noise or feel? because all the ones i put down didnt do anything they just went down untill it felt like they stopped. is there any special way of doing it other then getting them straight? please let me know because this is the last time ide like to have to do it for a long time. thanks in advance.

I just used an appropriately sized socket to push the valve stem seal firmly down. I don't recall ever haring a snap or a click when doing it.
I did this last summer and no smoke since. Also check to make sure your keepers are still on.

Mike

Thrashpipe · 07-24-2008, 10:20 AM

its alright , i was able to tap them down which i was never told to do before . mind you ive only owned a gt for a year now so i thank you for the help. im all done now and everything is running fine.

~Aaron

P.s thanks for the load of help Jrod ..........

mkmckenzie · 08-23-2008, 09:21 PM

Has anyone successfully use the pictured tool to remove and install the keepers (with Cams off)?

I managed to get the keepers off with the tool, but re-installing them with the tool isn't working out for me. The instructions on the package say "To install keepers, load keepers into the installer. Push or tap to install." But I see no way to load the keepers into the installer portion of the tool -- am I just stupid? I watched a youtube video of a guy using this tool to install keepers on a 300ZX. He installed the spring, put the retainer on top, then slid the keepers into the retainer. Then he just pushed down on the assembly with the tool and the keepers clicked into place. But when I do the same thing, the keepers do not move into place -- the value just opens if I whack it with a mallet hard enough (cylinder compressed with air). Arg, I feel like a dumbass. Maybe it's time to build the $15 spring compressor, lol.

xteekayx · 09-15-2008, 08:01 PM

I'm very intersted to see how it works with heads off... i'm ready to buy it

...

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkmckenzie

Has anyone successfully use the pictured tool to remove and install the keepers (with Cams off)?

I managed to get the keepers off with the tool, but re-installing them with the tool isn't working out for me. The instructions on the package say "To install keepers, load keepers into the installer. Push or tap to install." But I see no way to load the keepers into the installer portion of the tool -- am I just stupid? I watched a youtube video of a guy using this tool to install keepers on a 300ZX. He installed the spring, put the retainer on top, then slid the keepers into the retainer. Then he just pushed down on the assembly with the tool and the keepers clicked into place. But when I do the same thing, the keepers do not move into place -- the value just opens if I whack it with a mallet hard enough (cylinder compressed with air). Arg, I feel like a dumbass. Maybe it's time to build the $15 spring compressor, lol.

mkmckenzie · 09-15-2008, 11:59 PM

Lesson Learned: The silver-bullet-looking tool pictured above is too big for our heads. Appearently there is a metric version that looks the same but is slightly more slender. Be careful! I got the cheap one, which seems to be the standard version. First of all, the remover is too fat to fit on top of the valves without rubbing the inside walls of the head (I used it anyway). Second, the keeper installer portion is simply the wrong dimensions to work on our cars (the hole is too big to allow the rim to press on the keepers). So I had to engineer a ghetto installer with a 14mm deep socket, a spring, and a little steel sleeve of just the right size (maybe I'll post a picture later -- it worked pretty well). Finally, for those considering heads-on VSS with this style tool: there's not enough clearence above the back 3 cylinders' exhaust valves to use it unless you can remove those big plenum support brackets (which I didn't). For most of those 6 valves, I had to use a pry bar and a socket with a bunch of little magnets inside to remove keepers, and then reinstall using the pry bar with aforementioned ghetto installer. PAIN IN THE A$$!

CHRIS75 · 09-16-2008, 10:03 AM

Ok, When installing the new VSS how far should they go on the valve ?,
If you take the valve cover of your car and look at it you should be able to see the old vss.
Does the valve have a little groove where the vss's should go? i think the only grooves are for the keepers and that's it, ?!!?
So they shouldn't make a snap or click when installing right ?
( Picture is just to illustrate how far vss should go )

mkmckenzie · 09-16-2008, 11:57 AM

You're right -- the only groove on the stem is for the keepers (remember, the valve moves, but the seal doesn't. The seals attach firmly over the valve guide, not the valve stem. I think there is a groove in the valve guide, but you will not hear or feel a "click". You just have to push them down firmly as far as they will go. Use a deep socket to press evenly on them -- you may even tap gently with a mallet.

CHRIS75 · 09-16-2008, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkmckenzie

... The seals attach firmly over the valve guide, not the valve stem. I think there is a groove in the valve guide, but you will not hear or feel a "click".

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh so the vss are all the way to the bottom and attaches with the Brass Valve Guides to stay there forever while the valve goes up and down Right ?

You know i think I've seen some on mine that are out of the valve guide and just somewhere in the middle of the valve, ( i am not 100% sure but i do remember seeing at least 1 like this ) should i try to get them all the way down before trying to do a vss job ?

1 more question,when the new vss is in the valve ( but not all the way down ) do you push it all the way before or after putting the Retainer and keepers, it you do it before ; wont it make you drop the valve in the cyl with the pressure ? or is not much of a force needed to take the vss down.
With the keepers on, all you would need are some needle pliers to push them down right ?

Thanks . I am getting closer to get this done and all with your help guys

07-14-2008, 08:38 PM	#161 (permalink)
Thrashpipe New User - Please be kind Join Date: May 2008 Location: Gaylord , Mi Drives: 95 3kgt, 98 Eldorado Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Make your own valve spring compressor for $15 Alright guys FR1DAY you said you just did your VSS. I just tore my valve covers back off today to see if what i was thinking was correct (i hoped not) well evidently i didnt hope hard enough because the valve seals on the exaust side of the rear bank has 5 of the 6 seals that did not "Seat" and are all at the top most point on the stem , of course creating my smoke bomb. Now my question to you FR1DAY , is when you were seating your stems do they make a click or snap noise or feel? because all the ones i put down didnt do anything they just went down untill it felt like they stopped. is there any special way of doing it other then getting them straight? please let me know because this is the last time ide like to have to do it for a long time. thanks in advance. Last edited by Thrashpipe : 07-15-2008 at 07:07 PM.

07-24-2008, 10:20 AM	#164 (permalink)
Thrashpipe New User - Please be kind Join Date: May 2008 Location: Gaylord , Mi Drives: 95 3kgt, 98 Eldorado Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Make your own valve spring compressor for $15 its alright , i was able to tap them down which i was never told to do before . mind you ive only owned a gt for a year now so i thank you for the help. im all done now and everything is running fine. ~Aaron P.s thanks for the load of help Jrod ..........

08-23-2008, 09:21 PM	#165 (permalink)
mkmckenzie Slow in the driveway Join Date: Jul 2001 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: Make your own valve spring compressor for $15 Has anyone successfully use the pictured tool to remove and install the keepers (with Cams off)? I managed to get the keepers off with the tool, but re-installing them with the tool isn't working out for me. The instructions on the package say "To install keepers, load keepers into the installer. Push or tap to install." But I see no way to load the keepers into the installer portion of the tool -- am I just stupid? I watched a youtube video of a guy using this tool to install keepers on a 300ZX. He installed the spring, put the retainer on top, then slid the keepers into the retainer. Then he just pushed down on the assembly with the tool and the keepers clicked into place. But when I do the same thing, the keepers do not move into place -- the value just opens if I whack it with a mallet hard enough (cylinder compressed with air). Arg, I feel like a dumbass. Maybe it's time to build the $15 spring compressor, lol. Last edited by mkmckenzie : 08-23-2008 at 09:34 PM.

09-15-2008, 11:59 PM	#167 (permalink)
mkmckenzie Slow in the driveway Join Date: Jul 2001 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: Make your own valve spring compressor for $15 Lesson Learned: The silver-bullet-looking tool pictured above is too big for our heads. Appearently there is a metric version that looks the same but is slightly more slender. Be careful! I got the cheap one, which seems to be the standard version. First of all, the remover is too fat to fit on top of the valves without rubbing the inside walls of the head (I used it anyway). Second, the keeper installer portion is simply the wrong dimensions to work on our cars (the hole is too big to allow the rim to press on the keepers). So I had to engineer a ghetto installer with a 14mm deep socket, a spring, and a little steel sleeve of just the right size (maybe I'll post a picture later -- it worked pretty well). Finally, for those considering heads-on VSS with this style tool: there's not enough clearence above the back 3 cylinders' exhaust valves to use it unless you can remove those big plenum support brackets (which I didn't). For most of those 6 valves, I had to use a pry bar and a socket with a bunch of little magnets inside to remove keepers, and then reinstall using the pry bar with aforementioned ghetto installer. PAIN IN THE A$$!

09-16-2008, 10:03 AM	#168 (permalink)
CHRIS75 Verified Seller Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Florida Drives: 93 3000GT VR-QUATTRO Trader Rating: (13)	Re: Make your own valve spring compressor for $15 Ok, When installing the new VSS how far should they go on the valve ?, If you take the valve cover of your car and look at it you should be able to see the old vss. Does the valve have a little groove where the vss's should go? i think the only grooves are for the keepers and that's it, ?!!? So they shouldn't make a snap or click when installing right ? ( Picture is just to illustrate how far vss should go ) __________________ F1 ... Where Nascar & Indi Drivers Dream To Compete So long Michael.

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09-16-2008, 11:57 AM	#169 (permalink)
mkmckenzie Slow in the driveway Join Date: Jul 2001 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: Make your own valve spring compressor for $15 You're right -- the only groove on the stem is for the keepers (remember, the valve moves, but the seal doesn't. The seals attach firmly over the valve guide, not the valve stem. I think there is a groove in the valve guide, but you will not hear or feel a "click". You just have to push them down firmly as far as they will go. Use a deep socket to press evenly on them -- you may even tap gently with a mallet.