A friend of mine is putting together a V12 Lincoln. He has the valve guide tool ( a bar with a forked end) for the Flat Head V8. But it doesnt work on the V12, because the its shaped differently. There must be a similar tool for the V12. Does anybody know what the differences are? Or a pic maybe, so I can see the differences? Is there a company that still sells them? Or can the V8 bar be modified to work? Thanks...
The original V-12 tool was a sort of pliers/tongs...one forked leg engaged the slot like a V8 bar, then two fingers beside the fork attached to the other leg pushed against the casting beside the spring. Squeezing the handles was to move the guide down...I am dubious about the prospects for success. Nobody's hands are that strong... I think KD may have also made a rig, have not seen one in years. If you have spare guide retainer clips you can remove those by violence, then there are ways...I would try an approach like the big KD C-clamp puller at that time. Also, could you use a V8 bar or similar to pry then down, just as on a V8, if you made a plate that bolted across the valley lengthwise and provided a good fulcrum point?
Yeah, we were looking at adapting the V8 bar or bolting some adapter top the top of the valley. But I figured it was best to see what others have come up with first. Thank you Bruce.
I would not even worry about the original tool...if those guides stick like V8 ones those tongs aren't going to cut it. Of course...if valves are known to be junk...no problem: Just drill center of valve so head falls off of stem, then drive guide down with a socket.
PS...I described the valve tool from the '36-48 Lincoln engine overhaul book. Do you have a copy of that??
I'm not sure what kind of workshop manuals he has. The engine is all freshly machined, and ready to be buttoned up. New guides, and new or ground valves, valve springs looked new too... He told me he has done one before, but the final assembly was in somebody else' shop. And he cant remember what tool he used, because that was 50 years ago...
Ok...coupla things...if everything is new in there,life gets easier...and sounds like we are talking assembly rather than Dis. Springs are only a little stiffer than V8, and many old-timers assembled those with their bare hands. Since you are not fighting aged and carbonised junk you can probably get everything done in the valve area with any simple means that can get even a partial grip on the parts, pry-poke-use curved guide punch to push with, etc. I would likely start with just a flathead KD bar and a piece of 2X4 as fulcrum...curved piece of rod to push down guide around valve... The person who needs to find the proper heavy duty tools hasn't been born yet...he's the guy who will be disassembling this lump 50 years down the road! If you find a need for the manual, just shoot me your snailmail.
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