[MadmanMark]

I know this is going to sound a bit lame, but I just put 14 years and 40-50K miles on a set of valve springs before thinking they should be changed. Maybe I knew they should've been changed earlier, but I procrastinated. The car hadn't been revving up as fast and lost .3-.4 at the track. I have an sbc with a HR with about 0.630 lift. I have an crappy spring tester that showed about 20-30 lbs low at the installed height, but more like 80-100 lbs low at 0.6 lift. I put a set of new springs in and the car is going through the rpms just like I remember when this engine got swapped in.

I made the job harder than needed by using a spring compressor that does 2 valves at the same time. It was a painful process to get this tool lined up to allow the keepers to get where they needed to be. I probably should've worn safety glasses for those flying keepers! Next time I'm going back to the 1-at-a-time tool. Anyone have any suggestions for an on-the-head tool that works good? I'm thinking this would be a great winter project for anyone else who might be good at procrastinating.

 

[bracketchev1221]

Moroso spring tool.

 

[GoFast Beaumont]

proform
summit

there all basically the same. you'll start bending the generic ones once springs pressures are around 550-650 lbs open.

that said if your running bigger springs and have a welder, just make your own at this point.

 

[WHT/73]

Yeah my son's in the same boat as he has my old SR 406. It probably needed springs before I ran the times in my sig as I beat the hell out of my tires for 2/3 years prior to going to Englishtown.
Now I just have to tell him to put away for springs AND lifters.
It's always nice to feel the difference when you changed something.

 

[ChevelleFan70]

I did mine on the car a couple winters ago using the one that screws on the rocker stud.

Proform Parts 66784 Proform Valve Spring Compressors | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Proform Valve Spring Compressors with qualifying orders of $99. Shop Valve Spring Compressors at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

That tool had its issues too, because it didnt seem to always compress the spring evenly -- it got compressed more on the side closest to the stud, so it was a little finnecky at times. I also used nylon rope into the spark plug hole (after rotating that piston to TDC) so that I wouldn't have to remove my header for the compressed air fitting. YMMV.

-Dave

 

[steelcomp]

They're expensive but you really can't beat the quality of LSM's tools.

 

[427L88]

I like the Lisle #17650 on head spring compressor. And a machinists scribe with magnetic tip for those locks.

 

[MadmanMark]

I saw the LSM tool. Looks like their universal version has a bunch of adjustments to match different setups. Pretty cool.