'95 Continental with broken valve spring

[bigj-dog]

Hey, just picked up a 1995 Continental 4.6L DOHC with a broken exhaust valve spring, cyinder number 8. Anyone attempted replacing a spring with the head still in one of these engines? I'm thinking with the right compressor, I may be able to avoid even removing the exhaust camshaft. However, if I have to, I have to. Anyway, i'm going to attempt it and was just wondering if anyone else had either failed or succeeded. Thanks, Jared

[wafrederick]

Do not attempt it without the special tool kit.There is a special tool kit out and OTC does make it

[bigj-dog]

Do you mean a special tool kit to keep pressure in the cylinder as to keep the valve closed, or just the OTC 7928 kit?

[wafrederick]

OTC kit 7928 and a device to hold up the valves up which you hook up to an air hose and you can make the device to hold up the valves up,using an old spark plug knocking the porcelion off,rubber hose and an air tool fitting

[bigj-dog]

Sounds good, I've got the valve spring tool on order. Can you or anyone else send me a pic of the homemade cylinder pressurizing tool? I'm guessing I can figure it out, but a little visual recognition would make it easier. Thanks Wafe for all the help.

[bigj-dog]

Any thoughts on just using rope? I saw a few other people did that. Seems more fail safe than air, although it may not hold the valve all the way closed, but I could always pull it up with a magnet enough to get the keeper on all the way, right?

[wafrederick]

It is simple to make,weld on a hose fitting on the spark plug with the porcelion knocked off.same with the side with an air tool fitting,screwing on a air hose fitting with the air tool fittting attached to it.Finally with the hose,from an old air airhose cutting a foot of it off and attach with both sides with clamps and make sure the clamps are tight.The air method is much better

[bigj-dog]

Sounds good, thanks for the detailed description. I found KD tools air hold kit (part number 2992) for less than $10. It's just a foot long hose with a universal plug fitting (like on a compression tester) with a 1/4" air tool fitting on the end. I'll have to flip a coin on how much my time is worth to make it, it's usually worth about 50 cents an hour. Which gives me 20 hours to make it. I'll let you know when it's done.

[bigj-dog]

Well, the valve spring switch has been made. I ended up using rope, which worked like a charm, except that after the old spring was removed, we had to drop the piston down a little bit, then shove some more down the hole to keep the valve tight, all in all, about a half an hour and everything was finished. If it were just that simple to put the valve cover back on. I checked compression after it was replaced, it was online with all the other cylinders. So, everything's all good, too bad the tool costed $130. If anyone's looking for it at a discounted price, let me know. Thanks for all the help Wafe. I really appreciate it.