valve spring install $$$500????

[ziggys95tsi]

Well my crower valve springs and dks 272 cams just came in and they look great. When I called up a local guy to see how mcuh he wanted to install them and he said 450-500 with me buying a new headgasket and timing belt because he was going to take the head off to install them. MY buddy said he could do it with leaving the head on , but I want my shit done right. Wondering whcih way I should go. Thanx for your time and input!!!!

-If i get the head taken off, should I also get ss valves put in? Turbotrix did 1mm oversize on my head but I dunno about ss . thanx once again!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[daren_p]

If he's got a proper valve spring tool to swap the springs with the head on, might as well do it that way. Why bother pulling the head, unless you have a reason too? As for the tool that will alow you to compress the springs with the head on, the choices are very limited for our cars. Most of the ones out there that can be adapted to our cars will need two people to do the job as most don't lock the spring in the compressed position. I swapped mine with the head on the car but a local guy has a custom made tool that makes this a simple one man job. Just need something to keep the valves from dropping into the cylinder, either pressurize the cylinder (modded comp tester works well) or fill the cylinder with rope (I forget the name but you want a type of rope that doesn't frey).

 

[tkelly27]

^+1

Unless... When was the last time you had your HG and timing belt changed? If it's getting to be time, it may be good preventative maintinence. Otherwise, Daren is spot on.

 

[AK_4g63t]

Ahh, I never thought about rope. What I actually was thinking about a few months ago was to get a thick plastic bag and glue it to a metal tube. Somehow (either a valve stem or something) remove a spark lug and insert the bag into the hole and slowly blow it up. That would easily keep the valve from dropping in. But no, you do not need to remove the head as daren p stated.
-Donny

 

[daren_p]

Ahh, I never thought about rope. What I actually was thinking about a few months ago was to get a thick plastic bag and glue it to a metal tube. Somehow (either a valve stem or something) remove a spark lug and insert the bag into the hole and slowly blow it up. That would easily keep the valve from dropping in. But no, you do not need to remove the head as daren p stated.
-Donny

I wouldn't want to inflate a plastic bag in the cyliner, just incase you end up getting it stuck in there. Just filling the cylinder with pressurized air is all you need to do. Like I said a modified compression tester works great for this.

 

[ziggys95tsi]

thanks guys. you said i could use a regular spring compressor just that two people are needed? or do i need to modify a tool to do it period.

 

[AK_4g63t]

True... the bag thing was just an idea i thought of one night. Daren P, I have a cylinder pressure tester kit that you use to see if your leaking pressure somewhere such as... rings, headgasket, or valves. You simply screw it into the spark plug hole and install an air hose to it. Would something like this (always having 100psi being pressed into the cylinder) work?
-Donny

 

[Locke]

Turn the air pressure down, so you don't accidentally cause the bottom end to rotate.

 

[AK_4g63t]

Or keep in gear?

 

[daren_p]

True... the bag thing was just an idea i thought of one night. Daren P, I have a cylinder pressure tester kit that you use to see if your leaking pressure somewhere such as... rings, headgasket, or valves. You simply screw it into the spark plug hole and install an air hose to it. Would something like this (always having 100psi being pressed into the cylinder) work?
-Donny

Are you talking about a compression test or a leak down tester? If your talking comp tester, thats exactly what I used. I just removed the pressure gauge from it & installed a quick disconnect coupler in its place. I then just turned the regulator down on my compressor, screwed in the comp tester & hooked up the quick disconnect. I then turned up the pressure from the compressor to where I needed it to be. I think I used 30 or 40 psi, that should be more then enough to keep the valves solid in their place.

As for the spring compressor tool, I believe there is a style that works for our cars with the head on, that doesn't need to be modified but like I said you will need two people to do the swap. One to keep pressure on the valve with the tool & one you remove/install the valve locks.

 

[AK_4g63t]

Yes, I was talking about the leak down tester. Sorry.. I was at work and we're not allowed to be surfing the net so I tend to just type fast and not really think too hard about what I'm saying. A leak down tester, yes. I say "keep it in gear" because we just have 2 massive compressors and we do not have pressure regulators at our bays. Does anyone have a picture of a tool (home made) that only requires one person?
-Donny

 

[ziggys95tsi]

How about a picture of the tool for on the head install??? thanx