Anyway to align a valve spring whilst it's under compression?

[Entaran]

Have a problem with the last remaining valve spring in that it won't compress in a straight line, it leaves enough room on one side of the hole for two locks and not enough on the other for any. AKA, I can only get one half of the valve locked into the spring.

I've tried jimmying the thing with a massive screwdriver as I compress it, no dice.

Any other thoughts? Pretty much about ready to throw a match at it.

 

[Entaran]

Doesn't matter. Fixed it and ran into a new problem, time to pull the whole head off. *sigh*

 

[bazeng]

What happened?

 

[Entaran]

It's ok, I found a method to tap a valve loose without actually hitting the valve. Head stayed put, all valve springs now replaced.

Time to reassemble with 272's. Now I just pray that the timing and stuff is all correct.

it's also time to dust off my torque wrench.

 

[Entaran]

Also, do you loctite cam cap bolts? Like cam gear bolts? or do you just torque them down?

 

[JayRome]

Also, do you loctite cam cap bolts? Like cam gear bolts? or do you just torque them down?

torque them down.....

 

[Entaran]

Cheers, Top end reassembled now. Time to figure out exactly which tooth this timing belt should be on and start putting the side of it back together

Feeling confident. Watch it blow up!

 

[Liberoz]

loctite on cam gears in my book is a definate NO
and when fitting aftermarket cams dont forget to find the true TDC position, 9 times out of 10 it will be out if you dont dial them in before rocker goes back on.
And the spring you had issues with is Called the Prick Spring about centre of head and on the fire wall side of head, I normally just use the spring compressors with one leg its also a prick of a job (ie. Prick Spring)

 

[Entaran]

Actualy my prick spring was on exhaust side but same position Anyway got the springs done and cams in and TDC set and timing is ok and so on and so forth. Car started and didn't bend any valves or explode so that's a good sign. Now I just have to figure out how to tension the PS belt because i can't physically push down on it whilst tightening it.

 

[EVO-00X]

lol @ prick spring. Havent heard that term before but its a good one.

 

[Liberoz]

Actualy my prick spring was on exhaust side but same position Anyway got the springs done and cams in and TDC set and timing is ok and so on and so forth. Car started and didn't bend any valves or explode so that's a good sign. Now I just have to figure out how to tension the PS belt because i can't physically push down on it whilst tightening it.

its a 2 man job or a 1 man curse and struggle
1 to push/lever the pump to get tension on the belt..
the other to tighten it up

 

[brisvr4]

Bah! who needs power steering!

 

[Entaran]

Thought so John, thanks mate

 

[rob323]

I must have done it wrong all these years. Pry bar to lever the pump, then yank one of the ps bolts up tight with a long socket. Admittadly you no longer have a free hand to hold your beer with so you have to sit that on the rocker cover.

 

[Entaran]

rob, you're a legend. I've been prybaring things all day and it never even occured to me to do that. *sigh*

 

[VR-4Squid]

I must have done it wrong all these years. Pry bar to lever the pump, then yank one of the ps bolts up tight with a long socket. Admittadly you no longer have a free hand to hold your beer with so you have to sit that on the rocker cover.

that's how I do it, though I rest my beer on the strut tower amongst all the loose bolts/spare tools/removed parts/etc.:lol:

 

[EVO-00X]

Thats how I do it too. The handle of a hammer does the trick every time
Squid, as long as you dont forget about the bolts on the strut tower/fender and close the bonnet - ouch! lol