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Changing valvetrain without removing the heads. Heres how I do it.

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  • Changing valvetrain without removing the heads. Heres how I do it.

    I have done valvetrain work about a dozen different times at this point and I have not needed to remove the heads. Here is how I do it. You can actually buy a tool like this on ebay for around $100 bucks and it looks pretty fancy but me being a broke-ass, I made my own KL-specific tool.

    These are the parts to the tool I made. It will make sense later.
    The raw materials consisted of a short length of square steel tubing (about a foot), 2 L-brackets, one thick steel rod, a fender washer, a 1/2 inch drive deep well socket, and a short 1/2 inch extension.
    http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2...t/SSPX0268.jpg

    I took the socket and cut the large "windows" out of the sides while leaving a ring on the bottom un-touched. Next I took a 2" long piece of the steel rod and welded a washer in the middle and I inserted it into the back of the modified socket.
    http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2...t/SSPX0269.jpg

    Next I drilled a hole through one side of the square tubing about 3 inches from one end for the rod to go into. At the further end of the tubing, I drilled completely through for the 12" or so of rod to pass through.

    For the "L" brackets, I drilled two 8mm holes in the bases that are the same distance apart as the bolts in the cam caps. On the sides of the "L" brackets, I drilled multiple holes in the sides for the steel rod to pass through but I only use the top 2. Lastly, I took the short 1/2" extension and shoved it into the end of the square tubing so that I can insert varying sizes of extensions for more leverage.

    Here is the tool assembled.
    http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2...t/SSPX0270.jpg

    And with a long extension for leverage.
    http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2...t/SSPX0272.jpg

    Basically, you bolt the "L" brackets to the head once the cam are removed, using the cam caps as spacers to keep from marring the head with the brackets. Then assemble the tool as you can see in the last two pics. Remove a spark plug from the cylinder you are doing the valve work to and rotate the motor to drop the piston to BDC. Use a clean length of thin diameter nylon rope (nylon is best because it wont shred) and push as much as you can into the cylinder. I usually get about 3 feet of the 3/8" rope I use. Rotate the motor until it locks in place. The piston smooshing the rope against the head will hold the valves in place. Next, remove the valve spring bucket and use the tool to compress the valve spring and use a magnet to grab the keepers (valve locks) once they come free of the retainer. Do your thing with whatever replacement springs/ retainers/ keepers and install in the reverse of removal.

    Oh yeah, having a friend hold the lever down while dealing with the keepers is a very good idea, especially since it would suck really bad to accidentally drop one down an oil drain hole to the bottom of the motor. I have come close but it hasn't happened to me yet.

    Hope this helps some people out. I will take some measurements of the tool tomorrow and bolt it to a spare head to show it in action for a little more clarity tomorrow.


    *UPDATE*

    So here are more pics and more explanation.

    The tool assembled and on the head.
    http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2...t/SSPX0332.jpg

    You can also use it this way to get to the valves at the ends of the head.
    http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2...d/SSPX0335.jpg

    As you can see here, the locating pins for the cam caps keep the L-bracket from actually touching the head, and the cam caps are used as spacers so you can use the cam cap bolts. The bolts only need to be hand tight. DONT torque them down because you could could mushroom the locating pins.
    http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2...d/SSPX0337.jpg

    If, after the rope is inserted and crank is rotated to lock the valves in place, the locks don't release from the valve, hold the lever down and rap on the top of the lever like this.
    http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2...d/SSPX0334.jpg

    If you look close here, you can see the spring compressed and the locks released. This is the point where you grab them with a magnet.
    http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2...d/SSPX0339.jpg

    And now the springs and retainers are ready for the picking.
    http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2...d/SSPX0341.jpg

    When you re-install, have a friend compress the spring with the tool and dab some grease on each lock so that it sticks to the valve.

    Here are the measurements for all the parts.
    http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2...d/SSPX0344.jpg
    http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2...d/SSPX0346.jpg
    http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2...d/SSPX0347.jpg
    Oh yeah, the socket is a 13/16. You prolly cant go any bigger because it wont fit.


    And the reason ZEs drop valves. This entire bank had broken retainers.
    http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2...t/SSPX0203.jpg
    Last edited by WhiteDart; November 22, 2008, 07:39 PM. Reason: Fixed links
    Jim K.
    :89LX: Gone but not forgotten:96 PGT:(ze twin turbo) Its not purple dammit! Its BOYSENBERRY! :89PGT: New project :03 KLZE Protege5: Daily When I go for a drive, I leave life behind. Friends, work, everything. Its just me, the car, and a twisty road. The exhilaration of being on the edge of catastrophe is something that I will never be able to give up.

  • #2
    ha, thats pretty badass
    Beautiful Beast- 1997 PGT in process of becoming an SC/NA Beast...
    Elo- 1990 BMW 325i weekend car
    Brunhilde- 2003 BMW Z4 3.0 6-speed daily driver
    The Beast- Sleeping in the junkyard...

    Comment


    • #3
      Wow!! Now THAT'S what I'm talking about. Kudos for the creativity. I always like doing similar things myself when I have the resources and material, but not the cash. Great job. Can't wait to see more pics.
      redeemed
      IndyProbes founder

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      • #4
        that's a useful tool, I had to change my valvetrain a bunch of times on one of my klzes sicne i kept breaking itnake retainers in half.


        I had a tool i made up that was similar to that, and just pulled the line of my compression tester and hooked it up to an airline and kept the cylinder pressurized to keep the valve seated.
        Kevin Heisler

        90 JDM Fairlady Z , twin turbo lots of stuff done already but not enough space in the sig

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        • #5
          Very good info, can't wait to see this in action. I do agree with KM heisler on the air setup(the way I would do it), but not everyone has an aircompressor.

          Keep up the good work.
          1995 mustang gt 5.0/t-5
          No more probes, yes it has a 5.0 in it and yes RIGHT NOW its slower than my old probe.
          BUT

          Remember boys and girls...... Its not what is under the hood, its what FITS under the hood.

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          • #6
            An air compressor would work, HOWEVER, the keepers can get stuck in the retainers, especially on a high mileage motor, and not want to separate. You would still end up opening the valve and not be able to separate the valve from the keepers unless theres is something mechanical (the rope) holding the valve closed. Hell, i've had the keepers get stuck so bad I had to use a hammer on my tool to shock them apart. Ill prolly show how I do that too when I get home tonight.
            Jim K.
            :89LX: Gone but not forgotten:96 PGT:(ze twin turbo) Its not purple dammit! Its BOYSENBERRY! :89PGT: New project :03 KLZE Protege5: Daily When I go for a drive, I leave life behind. Friends, work, everything. Its just me, the car, and a twisty road. The exhilaration of being on the edge of catastrophe is something that I will never be able to give up.

            Comment


            • #7
              generally when removing keepers you should shock them in the manner you described to jar them loose
              Beautiful Beast- 1997 PGT in process of becoming an SC/NA Beast...
              Elo- 1990 BMW 325i weekend car
              Brunhilde- 2003 BMW Z4 3.0 6-speed daily driver
              The Beast- Sleeping in the junkyard...

              Comment


              • #8
                lol u know you can buy that tool from snap on... lol...
                Good judgement comes from experience.
                Experience comes from bad judgement.

                Comment


                • #9
                  lol u know that tool is almost $200 from strap-on... lol... [ /sarcasm]
                  Jim K.
                  :89LX: Gone but not forgotten:96 PGT:(ze twin turbo) Its not purple dammit! Its BOYSENBERRY! :89PGT: New project :03 KLZE Protege5: Daily When I go for a drive, I leave life behind. Friends, work, everything. Its just me, the car, and a twisty road. The exhilaration of being on the edge of catastrophe is something that I will never be able to give up.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    looks good jim, I got my strap-on knock off for 50 shipped on ebay. I compared it to a friends real strap-on. looks like it's the same company that makes them both. one gets a generic name the other gets strap-on.
                    03 frontier family car/dd
                    93 mx6 tessa's car: ze and just about every bolt on.
                    01 ws6 : 618/695 wrecked tell your kids to use a effing cross walk!!
                    02 35th SS.. heads and cam

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                    • #11
                      Thanks Matt. Total cost on my setup was, well free since it was scrap steel laying around the shop.

                      Big update in original post!
                      Jim K.
                      :89LX: Gone but not forgotten:96 PGT:(ze twin turbo) Its not purple dammit! Its BOYSENBERRY! :89PGT: New project :03 KLZE Protege5: Daily When I go for a drive, I leave life behind. Friends, work, everything. Its just me, the car, and a twisty road. The exhilaration of being on the edge of catastrophe is something that I will never be able to give up.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        damn thats an awesome tool, Great creativity there. may just have to make myself one

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                        • #13
                          I can vouch for the tool being great. Considering the only motor its been used for is mine. Without Jim making that tool I would be in some serious shit. I think we counted somewhere around 34 total retainers we have changed. Then finally it did drop a valve, and we got smart and just changed heads.

                          Awesome write up Jim. This deserves
                          "I come from a very big family, nine parents."


                          "Never let the truth stand in the way of a good story"

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                          • #14
                            Nice! Good idea and info.
                            '93 PGT MTX - DD
                            '97 Mustang Cobra : MAC O/R H - MAC Catback - 4.30's - PRO 5.0 Shifter - Eibach Pro-kit - Tokico Blue's - MM C/C Plates - Chrome Cobra R's :

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                            • #15
                              That's a very good idea!
                              1995 PGT - Turbo
                              1997 PGT
                              2016 WRX STI & 2016 Cadillac ATS AWD-Turbo

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