BTW you will find the screw type valve spring compressor tools MUCH easier to use then the lever style. I just replaced the springs on my 390 with the double springs after breaking in the solid lifter cam and I had the lever style. After fighting the first two neighbor lent me his screw style, it only took one to convince me to go buy my own.

Also for the fitting, someone already mentioned it, but go buy a compression tester. Sears sells them for $30 (just looked it up) and that is higher then I have ever paid. It has the adaptors for either size spark plugs, you just need to buy the appropriate sized air chuck fitting to screw into them. I don't even bother putting any hose onto them just screw the air fitting right into the adaptor.

 

Well...darn... I just bought one of the lever style compressors. Reason was I replaced valve seals on another truck a while back with a screw type compressor from Harbor Freight and did not have good luck with it.

 

thats cause it was from harbor freight.

 

Well since I have been boring you with this post so long I figured I would give an update. Got started on replacing the valve stem seals today. I got the whole driverside bank replaced. Took about 2 hours, I had trouble with the keepers and other things. Alot less smoke at startup now and no smoke going down the road. Should be almost smoke free after I replace the otherside.