Does the P38 V8 engine have unusually large valves?
I bought a valve spring compressor but none of the adapters are large enough. The kits goes up to 30mm but I measured the valve spring (after finding it didn't fit) and it seems to be 31mm.
This is the kit I bought:
neilsen CT1112 Valve Spring Compressor Kit - Red (7-Piece) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0044ZRCMQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Kl4XBb334JHAM
Anyone know if larger adapters are available? I can't find any so far.
I use one of these https://www.amazon.co.uk/Laser-0287-Valve-Spring-Compressor/dp/B0012M9G6O/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1539803138&sr=8-14&keywords=Engine+Valve+Spring+Compressors and that works fine on every engine I've tried it on. That one you've bought does say it is ideal for motorcycle and small bore engines......
Someone in the comments had used it on XK8, which had a "proper" engine.
But doesn't the XK8 engine have 4 small valves per cylinder not two bloody great big ones?
Ah...yes..that is a good point.
D'oh!
Have you got the heads back? I'd leave the valves alone if I were you. If the heads have been skimmed there's too much of a risk of scratching them messing around with the valves. Sit the heads on the bench combustion chamber up, put some spark plugs in and fill each combustion chamber with white spirit or diesel. If it pours out of the ports, the valve seats need doing, if it doesn't, leave them alone and bolt it back together.
Yeah, I have the heads back.
I'll give that a go then :)
I found I needed to "modify" mine a little with the grinder.
Did you modify the the valve spring or the tool?
The tool ;-) I ground a wee bit off the jaw so the collet could pass through. I tried holding the tool at an angle to let me slip one side of the collet out but only succeeded in launching the valve spring and "hat" into the kitchen ceiling.