The Official 356Talk Forum

I'm trying to install my valve springs on my A heads. I have a universal valve spring compressor that worked good for the intakes but just won't get the exhaust springs not enough room has anyone made a spring compressor that works. i'm thinking about using a C-clamp and welding a piece of tubing with a window in it or something to one end to compress the spring. any thoughts on this?
Jay D.

Jay I needed one on a trip. Made it fron a small 4" section on water pipe with two 2" opposite notches 40% through the wall with a 1/4" ring in the end. Then used a big F clamp to compressed the spring. It was sketchy but worked fine. Kinda looked like the factory tool without the stand.

thanks John, that's what i'm thinking. I tried to welding a piece of tubing to my universal compressor but as it closes it tends to pull the spring to one side and then you can't get the one keeper in. with the C-clamp you should be able to push straight in, maybe.
Jay D.

I made an adaptor, many years ago, of a thick wall tube about 2 1/2" long which has the right I.D. for the retainers. It has a notch out of one side. I simply clamp it in the valve spring compressor. One side is ground away to clear the head wall. I use it on a lot of different engines, modifying it as needed.

The valve springs often tilt, even usually tilt, even without the adapter. I just slide the first keeper around to the small side, then work at poking the second one in while rocking and compressing the spring.

A C-clamp would be harder to juggle the retainer around with.

Good Luck

Jay, Been there done that.

THATS what i'm thinking, i'm on it today thanks Allen
Jay D.

When using any of the C-clamp shaped valve spring compressors, be careful that you don't put any scratches in the valve cover sealing surface. One little slip and you get to fix a potential oil leak.

I retired all my old clumsy valve spring compressors



I finally built one that attaches to the side of my bench motor mount for doing my VW "practice motor", works great. I'll have to machine a new foot for 356 & 912 heads and make a different block of wood to hold the exhaust valves at an angle.









I also sacrificed an old pair of Vise-Grips for lapping the valves, works slick. Those flimsy suction cups on a stick never stay attached for very long.

Good work, Don!

A 356 owner who does his own work can't have too many "special" tools. We've seen some really good ones in this and other recent threads. Maybe we need a section just for such things. (I'd suggest a "sticky", but there's almost too many of those now....)

diy tools would be cool, my spring compressor works good you would think it was a Proto. my carb stand for working on my carbs. Jay D.

Some aren't DIY'd but are handy where you don't expect: These were bought to remove that snap-ring on the crank, but they work quite well in removing the pistons from the oil system valves.

Ron LaDow wrote: ↑Thu May 16, 2019 9:24 pm Some aren't DIY'd but are handy where you don't expect:
Snap Ring Pliars.png
These were bought to remove that snap-ring on the crank, but they work quite well in removing the pistons from the oil system valves.

ditto, and they also work great for inserting the distributor drive shaft

Don Gale wrote: ↑Thu May 16, 2019 9:36 pm

Ron LaDow wrote: ↑Thu May 16, 2019 9:24 pm Some aren't DIY'd but are handy where you don't expect:
Snap Ring Pliars.png
These were bought to remove that snap-ring on the crank, but they work quite well in removing the pistons from the oil system valves.

ditto, and they also work great for inserting the distributor drive shaft

Ooops: Forgot!
Yes, and they work great for *removing* the distributor drive shaft when that needs doing, like when you install it one tooth off.

OK, gotta show off my compressor. Built it long ago when working on motorcycles.