Engine Rebuild Tools - Valve Spring Compressor

PostPost by: ngiovas » Sat May 27, 2006 12:24 pm

I am getting ready to start the rebuild of my twin cam in the next few
weeks. I am thinking of buying a new valve spring compressor since I have
always borrowed one in the past. Is there any particular model someone
recommends? Will a standard compressor be fine? Also, are there any other
specialty engine tools I am going to need for the rebuild?



Nick
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PostPost by: Rob_LaMoreaux » Sat May 27, 2006 9:19 pm


A standard spring compressor will work with the proper adapter. The adapter
is a tube about 2 inches long with a hole to get at the keepers and a slot
for the fingers of the compressor to hold the adapter. Where are you at?
I've got a spring compressor with an adapter for an Alfa welded on to the
end that worked fine for me last winter that you could borrow if you are
near Detroit.

Other tools are just your normal gauges (bore and outside micrometer) and a
good socket set and torque wrenches.

Rob LaMoreaux
Ann Arbor, MI USA
(734)-971-5583
Cell (734)-604-9280
Email: ***@***.***
Too many Hobbies.... Too Little Time
1969 Lotus Elan....It's not a restoration, it's a never-ending adventure.
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PostPost by: ngiovas » Sat May 27, 2006 11:27 pm

Thanks Rob. I am in Clarkston. Did you make the adapter yourself, or did
you buy it? Do you have any pictures of it?

Nick

-----Original Message-----
From: ***@***.***lto:***@***.*** Behalf
Of rob_lamoreaux
Sent: Saturday, May 27, 2006 5:19 PM
To: ***@***.***; 'Nick Giovas'
Subject: RE: [LotusElan.net] Engine Rebuild Tools - Valve Spring Compressor


A standard spring compressor will work with the proper adapter. The adapter
is a tube about 2 inches long with a hole to get at the keepers and a slot
for the fingers of the compressor to hold the adapter. Where are you at?
I've got a spring compressor with an adapter for an Alfa welded on to the
end that worked fine for me last winter that you could borrow if you are
near Detroit.

Other tools are just your normal gauges (bore and outside micrometer) and a
good socket set and torque wrenches.

Rob LaMoreaux
Ann Arbor, MI USA
(734)-971-5583
Cell (734)-604-9280
Email: ***@***.***
Too many Hobbies.... Too Little Time
1969 Lotus Elan....It's not a restoration, it's a never-ending adventure.
ngiovas
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Posts: 144
Joined: 13 Jan 2004

PostPost by: Elan45 » Sun May 28, 2006 3:16 am

Nick,

No, just any old compresser will not work. Most valve spring compressers
have a sort of a fork end which goes over the spring retainer. Since the
TC spring retainers are down inside a hole, this type won't work. I made
my own compresser from a giant "C" clamp I was given many years ago. It
works fine, but if I were going to do it again, I'd do it a little
diferently, but what you need is a cylinder that will go down inside the
tappet bore and allow you to get out the cotters after compressing the
springs.

Roger




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PostPost by: marcfuller » Sun May 28, 2006 3:19 pm

It would be great to have a purpose built OHC valve spring compressor, if
you have a regular need and/or the coin.

You can order one from the UK for about $100
http://www.edirectory.co.uk/pf/pages/mo ... or&cid=880

Or Australia
http://cgi.ebay.com/Spring-Compressor-D ... dZViewItem

Or there are similar ones sold by some motorcycle shops in the US for a
little more money.
http://www.jpcycles.com/productgroup.as ... 302EAA8179

I couldn't wait and didn't want to spend the money so like a lot of peeps
on the listserv I made an extension from a 2" piece of 1" conduit and
ground out the sides to get to the retainers and used my old Sears OHV
spring compressor. Took about 15 min and has worked well enough.

At 03:18 PM 5/27/2006, you wrote:
-Marc '66 Elan DHC (36/6025)
http://www.lotuselan.us
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PostPost by: Fred Talmadge » Mon May 29, 2006 12:45 am

The c-clamp works but a conventional spring compressor is a little easier to
handle. You will still need to make a cylinder either way as the springs are
down in the head. Mine is made from a 1.5" piece of steel pipe.

Fred 1965 S2

On Saturday 27 May 2006 11:15 pm, Roger Sieling wrote:
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PostPost by: Rob_LaMoreaux » Mon May 29, 2006 1:29 am

Here's a link to a place that sells the adapter for an Alfa engine.

http://www.international-auto.com/index ... 15/sc/8140

It may be too big a diameter for the TwinCam. I have seen other versions
made from plastic, but I am not sure where it came from (it was the local
community colleges).

The compressor I have has this adapter welded to the forks, and I cut the
part that pushes on the retainer then squeezed the diameter down so it works
with the TwinCam.

Nick,

John McCoy is doing my head, and it should be done some time in the next
couple of weeks. I should not need the compressor for a while after that if
you want to borrow it. I plan to be at Great lakes crossings for autocrosses
on the following dates if you want me to bring it up with me: June 11, July
9, August 6, and September 3. If you want to come down to Ann Arbor and see
my engines you are welcome to. I have the Weber engine minus the head on the
stand right now, and some time in the next week I will be bringing the Elan
back from storage in Livonia if I can find a trailer to borrow. Once the
Elan is home I'll pull the Stromberg engine to determine the shape of the
bottom end since the cam lobe died (bad lobe hardening) and it lost oil
pressure a couple of times. When the Weber head returns I'll be putting it
on the bottom end that is in the best shape and putting it back in the car.
I hope to be able to drive the Elan in July. Much as I like driving the
other 4 cars (1972 Alfa Berlina TwinSpark 2.0L, 2002 Corvette coupe, 2003
SVT Focus, and 1997 Volvo 960 wagon family tow vehicle), the Elan will
always be my favorite. With John McCoy's 0.450 lift cam it should be even
more fun to drive and autocross.

Rob LaMoreaux
Ann Arbor, MI USA
(734)-971-5583
Cell (734)-604-9280
Email: ***@***.***
Too many Hobbies.... Too Little Time
1969 Lotus Elan....It's not a restoration, it's a never-ending adventure.
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