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This might be a silly question but I shall ask it anyway. I need to change the valve springs in my 350 because I bought a new cam. Actually I bought the whole kit; cam, lifters, springs, timing chain etc... Is it possible to change the springs without pulling the head off? I know it might sound like a crazy question but if I could bypass taking the heads off it would save me some time. If it can be done what tool would I need? Thanks
yes it is and you will need a few tools to do this properly...
You will have to set the spring installed height....shim accordingly
you will also need a air chuck fitting to fill the cylinder with air which intern also neccesitates an air compressor...
There's a number of companies making the valve spring compressor to change valve springs with the heads still on. As Bowtie mentioned, you will also need the air connection to screw into the spark plug hole and fill the cylinder with air to hold the valve closed and make it possible to remove the springs without dropping the valve in the cylinder. We broke a valve spring one day at the races, no compressed air available. We pulled the plug on that cylinder, put some rope in the cylinder and turned the engine over by hand to wedge the rope between the piston and the valves. Certainly not the recommended method but it worked on a Sunday afternoon!!! Sometimes ya just gotta improvise.
You can also put a ballon into the cylinder and inflate it,,,this works real nice.
Yea I think I will just go with the more conventional way and remove the heads. Less lower back pain. Thanks everyone