so ive narrowed down a sigle plug fouling out to a bad valve seal...i have a 69 nova ss with a 350sbc and was wondering is it possible to replace without taking the heads off? has anyone done it?
Yes,and it can be done on the side of the road with a piece of flat bar,string,rag,hammer,socket.I dont recommend those tools but we did that at a race track when we had a broken spring,,,,between rounds,,,
the string can be used in the spark plug hole to keep valve from dropping. Hammer and socket to take spring off. I recommend you use a spring compressor for reassembly. there is also a spring compressor that reaches over the spring and has a turn knob on top that compresses the spring and has claws,think of a steering wheel puller principal
The one w/the knob won't work w/double springs and heavy springs can be a problem. But it's OK for stock and mild performance springs.
Valve Spring Removal 101, Lesson 1: Loosen the locks before compressing spring. Use a large socket that will allow you to put force on just the retainer/spring and NOT the tip of the valve. In other words- hit the valve retainer- not the valve tip. A rubber mallet works fine, dead blow, fine- just do not use a steel hammer against steel. You can use a piece of wood atop the socket and hit THAT w/a steel hammer, if need be.
A cheap tool that will also work for mild springs. It goes over the stud, use a non locking nut to tighten the tool against the retainer, not a lock not or polylock you're going to reuse:
And a more expensive tool for heavier springs:
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