Does anyone know what tool (from anyone) will fit on a flathead cadillac that will compress the valve springs enough to get the keepers out? I'm taking apart a 1938 engine right now, and managed to use a "C" type tool to get out all the keepers except two of the end valves, the tools just don't have enough clearance to push the springs up far enough. Been trying to find a good one for a while, and I have 2 more cadillac's and 4 ford flatheads to take down so I can get the blocks magged and tanked. Getting the springs out has been driving me nuts! I've been staying away from trying to shim the tool somehow, figure I'll just put my eye out with em. Y'all have a good day, Keith
Hey Keith - I borrowed a valve spring compressor I was told was for Ford flatheads to remove the valve springs and retainers on my Hudson flathead 6. It worked like a charm and I have been on the lookout for one ever since. Maybe you'll have better luck finding one than I did down in Bama. If I could get it back in my possession again, I'd consider taking a closer look and just making one. For all I know, someone makes repros. Good luck.
See if you can find and post a picture of factory or aftermarket ones for your engine... I have a tool that is allegedly for this, but I actually know nothing about these engines. Don't want to ransack the junk pile if tool is utterly wrong. From memory, it is a small thing that must sit inside the valley on the lifter holder blocks and then screw up against the spring. Don't remember much detail. KD made...KD was kind of a spe******t in specialized valve tools in the '30's and '40's and made the best stuff for bangers and flatheads.
Well, I worked out a fix. I took a 6" long 14mm combination wrench and put the box end in the middle of the bottom forks and held it in place using the screw that adjusts the fork width. This was on a "C" type clamp with a lever to operate the lower arm and a pretty long adjustment on the top end. with the combo wrench on top of the forks, it gave me enough clearance to get the keepers out on the cadillac. Still gotta try the ford. If it works on the ford, I'm gonna get a ferrule that's about the same diameter as the springs with a large hole in the middle, something about 1/2" tall or so. That way I can use the tool I have already. Thanks for the information on the KD, I can almost see how you could bolt one into the holes for the lifter ***emblies. I tried to take a picture of the setup I used so that others can use it, but bounced my cell phone too hard on the concrete and it gave up on me. I can't be the first person who thought of this trick, but it sure worked great and I wanted to p*** it on to others. I'll put pic's of the setup on this thread tomorrow. y'all have a good day, Keith
Here are the pic's of the tool with the wrench in it, gave enough clearance on the caddy block to get the keepers out. Now all I gotta do is get the valves out, looks like they've been stuck for 40 years or so.
I just finished by valve spring keepers, it's not an easy job. That is somewhat like the tool I used but found a better one that is larger and gives enough leverage that you don't have to rig it with all sorts of spacers. Try these guys at Clark Tool, ask them for the largest valve spring compressor they have for a caddy flathead, tell them Jennifer sent you. They will know exactly what you are talking about. I went through two different ones before I found one that worked. Sedalia, MO 2907 W. Broadway Sedalia, MO 65301 (660) 826-3100
the compressor that is in post #5 is the type I used, getting the lifter block inplace is another story. I think I just spun crank over untill most of the lobes were down and forced them in . sorry it has been the better part of 20 years. Could you lift the valves off their seats? holding them up with a shim of wood ?
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