naviathan Posted January 12, 2008 Share Posted January 12, 2008 I'm looking for a good valve spring compressor for the L28. I'd like to get one that will work for either head on car or head off car spring changes. What do some of our pros use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpyvette Posted January 12, 2008 Share Posted January 12, 2008 now IVE never done a datsun,6 cylinder, but this is what I use on chevy,mopar and pontiac,caddys ETC. http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=PRO%2D66832&autoview=sku this generally gets more use http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=WMR%2DW89409&autoview=sku heads off http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=SUM%2D906784&autoview=sku heads on this type used to be popular, they work but are slow http://www.mytoolstore.com/kd/kdengi13.html?ref=googleadws&kw=valve+spring+compressor&gclid=CLixwdr68JACFReQGgodJx1l0g they make pneumatic power ones for head shops, but they can be expensive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naviathan Posted January 12, 2008 Author Share Posted January 12, 2008 I have one of these: But it doesn't work so well. I have issues getting the prongs into the spring coils. This one: Looks like it might work better, but I've never seen that design before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpyvette Posted January 12, 2008 Share Posted January 12, 2008 they screw onto a stud then the cam action lever depresses the valve, so its loose on the valve retainer, if the heads off you then wack the valve head with a plastic hammer and it comes appart from the retainer/keepers they work , but remember to pressurize the cylinder to 120 psi to keep the valve from dropping into the cylinder or to insert about 10 ft of 3/8" cotton rope into the cylinder at BDC then rotate it to TDC before removing the keepers if the heads are ON THE ENGINE and dont forget to rotate to bdc and remove the rope when you go to the next cylinder btw tie a large knot in one end of the rope or theres a chance it all falls into the cylinder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xander Posted January 12, 2008 Share Posted January 12, 2008 I have one of these. It works very well for the nissan OHC engine when the head is still on the car. When the head is on the workbench it becomes a bit of a hassle but it still works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naviathan Posted January 12, 2008 Author Share Posted January 12, 2008 I have one of these. It works very well for the nissan OHC engine when the head is still on the car. When the head is on the workbench it becomes a bit of a hassle but it still works. How does that one work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 KD Tools makes one for around $35 last I checked that is very similar to what Xander shows, and works fine on or off the car. As with anything on the head 'off the car' levering on it will make it want to move around. Sticking two dowels in your benchtop that correspond to your head bolt holes will remedy that handily.... It hooks over the cam, and you depress it over the spring retainer so you can remove the retainers. Pretty easy. The KD has several adjustable hand lever positions so you aren't right on top of the manifold when you are depressing the spring. I usually take the head off intake and all, so it's a feature that is critical for me, and for anyone working on the car in-frame. Apparently they are $46 nowadays from The Tool Source. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naviathan Posted January 14, 2008 Author Share Posted January 14, 2008 KD Tools makes one for around $35 last I checked that is very similar to what Xander shows, and works fine on or off the car. As with anything on the head 'off the car' levering on it will make it want to move around. Sticking two dowels in your benchtop that correspond to your head bolt holes will remedy that handily.... It hooks over the cam, and you depress it over the spring retainer so you can remove the retainers. Pretty easy. The KD has several adjustable hand lever positions so you aren't right on top of the manifold when you are depressing the spring. I usually take the head off intake and all, so it's a feature that is critical for me, and for anyone working on the car in-frame. Apparently they are $46 nowadays from The Tool Source. Awesome, as always TonyD has the information. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlderThanMe Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 I had one like this... Spent $15 on it. It literally broke on the first valve. The threaded section in the middle is only thin-wall tubing and not solid and it just ripped out on the first valve. The pictured one looks to have a solid bar for the middle so it may work better. I now have a $40 c-clamp~ish style one from autozone and it works great. Pulled a couple heads apart with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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