Volvo RWD 140-160 Forum

INDEX FOR 10/2025(CURRENT) INDEX FOR 2/2002 140-160 INDEX

[<<]  [>>]


THREADED THREADED EXPANDED FLAT PRINT ALL
MESSAGES IN THIS THREAD




  REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

On the car valve spring compessor tool 140-160 1974

I need to replace all 12 valve stem seals on a 1974 B30F. I'm looking for input on what is the best "on the car" valve spring compressor tool.
I have a spark plug air set-up to hold the valves up with compressed air.
I tried the $10 Harbor freight 60335 otc valve compressor tool which is complete junk in my opinion.

Lisle 16750 tool doesn't look too bad for about $40
What is the best valve spring tool you have found to do this job?








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    EDIT   PRINT   SAVE 

    Half-Assed. Are you sure it's the seals causing the smoke? The only tell tale is lifting off the gas at speed & seeing smoke.

    OK, if you are broke, just six on the inlets, there is never a time when oil is sucked down the exhaust stems. 6x5/16" stem seals is change out of $10.

    Doing it properly, take the head off & get it serviced(dissassembled, hot tank, new guides where required, usually 6x exhaust, stellite exhaust seats for unleaded, valve grind, inspect springs, you clean and reassemble.) When stipping, save all gaskets, the manifold gasket can be resused if in one piece, the tappet cover if it isn't shrunk, the water pump o-rings. Just a B30E head gasket & 12x generic 5/16" stem seals. Now is also the time to decide B20E or F via shaving the head. The E gasket gets the quench where it should be:.035 to .040", that improves combustion.

    SAVE the head gasket, great to use for breaking in a cam, then swapping in the new one.

    So do it cheap or properly.

    If you take the head off, don't touch the ports, stock B30 inlet ports are better than any stock B20 port.

    Also, head off is agood time to upgrade the cam. Some Swedish companies do a K cam for B30A/E/F. If you up the compression to B30E via head shaving, the enfine will respond to a long exhaust lobe. Cosworth A3 works great with stock springs for a high compression exhaust lobe. If you get your stock cam reground, go Isky VV-61x2 over the standard lobe centres for low compression or A3 exhaust for high compression.

    Modifying the MPS PROPERLY will give the extra fuel required around full throttle while being able to leave or lean out part throttle mixture for economy.

    If at a later time you rebuild the short block with 6x .040" OS Mahles using the same block, then all this stuff can be put straight back onto the rebuilt short block, PROVIDED you put the lifters back where they came from.

    B20Paul.



    Mark this post as an answer to my question<- Use this feature to mark quality replies to your post.





  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    EDIT   PRINT   SAVE 

    We've been using the Lisle version of the Harbor Freight 60335 for the last 40 years.

    It's always been finicky and you have make sure the tool doesn't shift while you are screwing the valve retainer down to prevent 1 of the legs from slipping off the spring.

    The new Lisle tool looks interesting, but I haven't used 1.
    --
    Eric
    Hi Performance Automotive Service (formerly OVO or Old Volvos Only)
    Torrance, CA 90502
    hiperformanceautoservice.com or oldvolvosonly.com



    Mark this post as an answer to my question<- Use this feature to mark quality replies to your post.





    •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    EDIT   PRINT   SAVE 

      Maybe your USA made 40 year old Lisle tool is a little more engineered than this junky $10 Harbor Freight special. Maybe I'll bite the bullet and order that better Lisle 16750 tool.
      Still looking for a better "on the car" valve spring compressor tool if anyone knows of one out there for a '74 Volvo 164E B30F engine.
      Thanks, Duck



      Mark this post as an answer to my question<- Use this feature to mark quality replies to your post.





      •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    EDIT   PRINT   SAVE 

        After seeing the new Lisle tool from your post, I ordered 1 of these today from my local NAPA. I should have it tomorrow. No promise when I'll try it, but I will probably do so sometime soon.





        https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_7769054?keywordInput=7769054
        --
        Eric
        Hi Performance Automotive Service (formerly OVO or Old Volvos Only)
        Torrance, CA 90502
        hiperformanceautoservice.com or oldvolvosonly.com



        Mark this post as an answer to my question<- Use this feature to mark quality replies to your post.





        •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    EDIT   PRINT   SAVE 

          Forget the air chuck and use some cord / rope inside the spark plug hole and turn each cylinder upward on the compression stroke and hold th valve shut. Sometimes you have to wack the spring cap the release the valve keepers and that force can dislodge the valve sealing from the compressed air. I almost lost a valve one time into the cylinder after the compressed air spun the piston down and release the valve from it's seat. The rope won't do any damage and it's a fail proof tool. I have an air chuck tool also, but no longer use it and prefer the rope methode.



          Mark this post as an answer to my question<- Use this feature to mark quality replies to your post.





  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    EDIT   PRINT   SAVE 

    I don't recall the brand of my tool without digging it out --handed down from my dad so its been in our family more than 60 years----BUT--when you do each cylinder's valves be sure to rotate the motor so the pistons are at the top of the stroke. You can do cylinders 1 and 4 at the same time--then rotate the motor 180 degrees and do 2 & 3. - Dave



    Mark this post as an answer to my question<- Use this feature to mark quality replies to your post.





    •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    EDIT   PRINT   SAVE 

      It's a B30 so you'll get two pistons up at each 120 degrees of crank rotation. Sorry I don't know the B30 firing order off hand though. You could also do the rope trick to keep the valves seated.



      Mark this post as an answer to my question<- Use this feature to mark quality replies to your post.





      •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    EDIT   PRINT   SAVE 

        B30 firing order---1-5-3-6-2-4- You do 1&6 at the same time - then 2&5 - then 3&4 -- Dave



        Mark this post as an answer to my question<- Use this feature to mark quality replies to your post.




<< < > >>



©Jarrod Stenberg 1997-2022. All material except where indicated.


All participants agree to these terms.

Brickboard.com is not affiliated with nor sponsored by AB Volvo, Volvo Car Corporation, Volvo Cars of North America, Inc. or Ford Motor Company. Brickboard.com is a Volvo owner/enthusiast site, similar to a club, and does not intend to pose as an official Volvo site. The official Volvo site can be found here.