Last night I spent some time measuring Valve Spring heights and installing the Valve Springs and Valve Seals. The little white things are the valve seals. They go on first and prevent oil from running down the valve stem and into the cylinder. Then we use a measuring tool to measure between where the spring will sit on the head to where it mates with the spring retainer. In this case, this distance needs to be 1.843 - 1.850. We use spring shims of varying thicknesses to achieve the required height (the blue things). Once we have the correct shims in place to give us the correct height, we install the spring retainer (black disc things) onto the valve spring, slide it over the valve stem, and use a handy tool called a valve spring compressor to compress the spring. We then install the valve keepers (little split gold things) onto the valve stem and while holding them in place with one hand, gently release pressure on the valve spring to capture the keepers between the valve stem and the retainer. The nylon hammer is used to smack the top of the valves a few times to make sure everything is seated properly.(or to beat my team mates if they drop something, smirk) You do this 16 times, 8 on each cylinder head.
Steve McGilvrey
The past must be a springboard, not a sofa.
Posted by: supra society | November 12, 2010 at 01:17 AM