Flathead V-8 Valve Guide Retainers
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Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,858
Likes: 3
From: Friendswood, Texas
Flathead V-8 Valve Guide Retainers
I am currently tearing apart both of cracked flatheads and they are my first flathead teardowns.
How do I get the valve guide retainers out? It must have been beginners luck but I got the first one (for an exhaust valve) out without too much trouble and the guide came right out as well. The next three (one exhaust and two intakes) have been a real PIA. I can get the valves, valve stem locks, and valve stem retainers out without too much trouble, It's that valve guide retainer with the little handle (with small hole in it) that I cannot get out. I think it just pulled out on the first one - no problem.
The engine is pretty grimy so I have been working the valve guide retainer back and forth about 120* to get some of the gook out of the way.
Am I missing something? Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks.
How do I get the valve guide retainers out? It must have been beginners luck but I got the first one (for an exhaust valve) out without too much trouble and the guide came right out as well. The next three (one exhaust and two intakes) have been a real PIA. I can get the valves, valve stem locks, and valve stem retainers out without too much trouble, It's that valve guide retainer with the little handle (with small hole in it) that I cannot get out. I think it just pulled out on the first one - no problem.
The engine is pretty grimy so I have been working the valve guide retainer back and forth about 120* to get some of the gook out of the way.
Am I missing something? Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 7,493
Likes: 7
From: Erie, pa
I use a cotter pin remover. (Think an awl with the end bent in a hook.)
On some of the tougher ones I took the valve retainers off, worked the valve out, pried the spring out, watch for the KA-ZING, and then removed the retainer.
On some of the tougher ones I took the valve retainers off, worked the valve out, pried the spring out, watch for the KA-ZING, and then removed the retainer.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,858
Likes: 3
From: Friendswood, Texas
Actually, this is what I have done except I have not pulled the spring yet. I did not realize that the spring would come out with the vavle guide still in place.
Currently, I have a piece of tie-wire (Baling wire whatever) that I have run through the hole in the handle and I am pulling my **** off with pliers that I am using to twist the other end of the wire around and it still won't come.
Currently, I have a piece of tie-wire (Baling wire whatever) that I have run through the hole in the handle and I am pulling my **** off with pliers that I am using to twist the other end of the wire around and it still won't come.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 7,493
Likes: 7
From: Erie, pa
If you don't have one of those long pickle forK pry bars made for the flatheads get a very big screw driver and either use it to pry down on the spring to remove some tension or use the screw driver to pry the bottom of the spring off the lifter boss and remove it.
WHAT EVER YOU DO PLEASE BE CAREFULL, ONE SLIP AND YOUR GONNA BUY A WHOLE HERD OF PAIN.
WHAT EVER YOU DO PLEASE BE CAREFULL, ONE SLIP AND YOUR GONNA BUY A WHOLE HERD OF PAIN.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,858
Likes: 3
From: Friendswood, Texas
I don't have the pickle fork so I am using a big screwdriver. Am I correct in assuming that the guide retainer should just pull out once the tenison from the spring ahs been released?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,294
Likes: 1,055
From: NM
NO! Even without spring pressure, the guide needs to drop down, or the retainer won't be able to be removed. Exhaust guides especially will likely be stuck in place. Either a pickle fork, big screwdriver, prybar, whatever, you need to drop that guide down about 1/4" or so. The retainer is up inside the block until the guide drops down, that's what keeps it in place! If the valve is out, you can drive it down from above.
Last edited by ALBUQ F-1; Feb 23, 2006 at 11:22 PM.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,294
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From: NM
Originally Posted by texan2004
Actually, this is what I have done except I have not pulled the spring yet. I did not realize that the spring would come out with the vavle guide still in place.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Friendswood, Texas
Thanks,
I finally figured that out. It's so dang messy in there that you can't just look at something and figure out what is going on. You really need to know beforehand becaue you are almost working blind.
I popped the guides down a bit and the reainers came right out. Now I must figure out how to get the guides to move back up so that I can remove the spring.
I did pull the spring on one of them first and knocked the guide down through the hole using a 1/2" drive extension. Seemed to work OK. The last two I tried doing this without first removing the spring and I now have the problem I described in the paragraph above.
After these first four, I should have a pretty good handle on it. Thank goodness there are 16 of these in the enigne and I have 2 engines to tear down. I should be pretty good at this by the end of the day tomorrow (and pretty messy too).
BTW - do they go back together any easier than they are coming apart????
I finally figured that out. It's so dang messy in there that you can't just look at something and figure out what is going on. You really need to know beforehand becaue you are almost working blind.
I popped the guides down a bit and the reainers came right out. Now I must figure out how to get the guides to move back up so that I can remove the spring.
I did pull the spring on one of them first and knocked the guide down through the hole using a 1/2" drive extension. Seemed to work OK. The last two I tried doing this without first removing the spring and I now have the problem I described in the paragraph above.
After these first four, I should have a pretty good handle on it. Thank goodness there are 16 of these in the enigne and I have 2 engines to tear down. I should be pretty good at this by the end of the day tomorrow (and pretty messy too).
BTW - do they go back together any easier than they are coming apart????
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Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Friendswood, Texas
Originally Posted by ALBUQ F-1
I assume you have the heads off and the valve removed; otherwise, no, you can't remove the springs with the guide in place. At least not without destroying them
And yes, the heads were pulled a while back and the valve has been removed on the valve assemblies that I am currently attemtping to remove/disassemble.
It's just very messy in there and difficult to see how everything goes together. I've never done one of these and I don't know anyone who has ever done one. So the learning curve is a bit steeper than I was expecting. Did I say it was a mess in there. I want to get it disassembled so that I can take these blocks to the machine shop to get them cleaned up.
Last edited by texan2004; Feb 23, 2006 at 11:29 PM.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,294
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From: NM
Congrats! Actually, with them cleaned up, the guide bores clean (gummy stuff removed, and oiled) they go together extremely easily. You can see how clever Henry was, I bet they could do an engine in less than a minute on the assembly line! You fully assemble the valve, spring, retainers, etc, drop it in the hole, stick the fork on it, crank it down a little, stick the retainer, and you're done! It's a hundred times easier than a OHV engine.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,858
Likes: 3
From: Friendswood, Texas
Originally Posted by ALBUQ F-1
Congrats! Actually, with them cleaned up, the guide bores clean (gummy stuff removed, and oiled) they go together extremely easily. You can see how clever Henry was, I bet they could do an engine in less than a minute on the assembly line! You fully assemble the valve, spring, retainers, etc, drop it in the hole, stick the fork on it, crank it down a little, stick the retainer, and you're done! It's a hundred times easier than a OHV engine.
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