Project WDE Talon

[VR4Rob]

I've got a valve spring compressor that I used to do the VSS on the ole Maxima. Not sure if it's exactly what you need but it's a nice valve spring compressor and it was fantastic for the L24. Rather than use compressed air I used the old muscle car trick of stuffing a long string into the cylinder via the spark plug hole with the cylinder at TDC to hold the valves up.

[Granny]

I've got a valve spring compressor that I used to do the VSS on the ole Maxima. Not sure if it's exactly what you need but it's a nice valve spring compressor and it was fantastic for the L24. Rather than use compressed air I used the old muscle car trick of stuffing a long string into the cylinder via the spark plug hole with the cylinder at TDC to hold the valves up.

I haven't seen it done yet but DJ was talking about using the string method just a few weeks ago.
Sounds like it works well.

[Blackmount]

Id honestly just pull the head instead of doing stuff the lazy ghetto way. Chamces r ur gonna drop something down in the cylinder anways most people doo

[VR4Rob]

This is a terrible pic but the only one I can find. This is the style of valve spring compressor I have:

[BigTyla]

That'll do.

Gotta get my battery charged for the 78587235th time so I can do a compression test just to make sure there aren't other terrible things going on down there. Will also order that timing belt tool set soon.

[Chris@Rvengeperformance]

its silly to pull the head if all you need to do is compress the valve springs. I can build a compressor tool in like 10 minutes using the guide on the other site.

If you feel you must pull the head get an 8" c clamp and a socket with the side cutout. Works great and will cost you like $15.00

[AdamVR4]

its silly to pull the head if all you need to do is compress the valve springs.

Geeze, seriously. I find myself questioning almost everything blackmount has to say. u r now on my ignoor lizt

I've done a shit load of valve stem seal jobs with engines in cars... I have a good air compressor today, but I use the string/rope method because twice, years ago, valves dropped into cylinders using compressed air (2 different air compressors; I was able to fish the valves up and out ). If the spring applies even a tiny bit more force than what's being applied by the air and you break the seal, the valve is pretty likely to fall in. If you're going to use compressed air, if you bring the piston up, the valve shouldn't be able to fall in. You just have to remember to bring the piston up... Eljefe's car was the last one I used compressed air on because afterwards the engine didn't want to spin. It took a good deal of torque to break it free, which was terrifying, but then it fired up and ran great. I can only assume that moisture in the cylinder(s) had caused a little corrosion between the rings and the walls. I've used string ever since and have never had an issue at all.

Oh, and Tyla, awesome spring compressor link. You DSM guys get all the cool shit

[Blackmount]

Well the way I see if im going to do valve stem seals, im just going to do the entire head. Send it off the the machine shop to have it cleaned and new guides and seats put in. doing the bare minimum on previous projects always bit me in the ass later. So now its all or nothing.

[Chris@Rvengeperformance]

that theory is just fine, but if you aren't going to overhaul the whole head then leaving the head on makes a lot more sense.

[BigTyla]

Not planning on doing a complete overhaul, so leaving the head on should be fine. If I find other surprises in there though it might persuade me in a different direction. Given the circumstances though, I think the previous owner just did something stupid like throwing in used, worn VSS or installing them incorrectly.

The string method seems like the safest method and the easiest too.