Me and my dad are currently attempting to rebuild his straight eight motor, but we can’t figure out how to remove that valves. It’s our first time rebuilding an engine and we don’t want to mess it up by breaking anything. How do we remove the valves on it? We have the shop manual but it doesn’t say how to and I haven’t been able to find anything anywhere else.

Edited June 26, 20233 yr by Miles

To remove the intake and exhaust valves/valve guides on a straight 8 side valve Pontiac engine....Requires special tools that used be very common but are now hard/impossible to come by...Unless you know an old school mechanic who may happen to have one laying around somewhere in the back of their shop buried under 60 years of stuff stacked on top of it...That being said...There is a way to do it...And it can be done...You will need a large pair of curved needle nosed pliers similar to these...

I will try to explain how to do it as best I can...You will have slip the pliers thru the access cover to between the lifter/tappet and the valve spring/retainer with the pliers open as shown in the pic..They need to open wide enough so that they clear the valve stem/tip... Slip them in with them pointed up like in the pic..Then make sure that the tips are only touching the spring retainer and not the valve itself then push up on the retainer/spring using the lifter to push against....The valve should move/open...When the valve has opened about a 1/4 inch or so...Carefully Use a light soft faced hammer and squarely tap the valve back down toward the block....With the pliers holding the spring/retainer in place...The valve will slide back through the retainer releasing the valve/keepers/locks...Be very careful catch the locks/keepers with a magnet or something so that do don't loose/drop them inside of the engine...Once the locks/keepers have been removed let the pressure off the valve spring...and simply pull the valve out of the top of the block and pull the spring/retainer assy... out the bottom...Then you can remove the tappet/lifter by rotating and pulling up on it...If the tappets/lifter have a screw in top center... That is what is used set the valve lash/clearance upon reassembly...Please keep us posted...I will also be happy to help as best I can if you have any other Questions/issues..

TLBT..

Edited June 26, 20233 yr by TWO LANE BLACK TOP

Thank you so much! I'll try that out and then let you know how it goes!

Miles - welcome to FP.

Please let us know the good or bad luck you have once you and your dad try Two Lane's advice.

I also have a straight 8 and need replacement valve keepers and I can't find anyone with them does anyone know of a place any help would be much appreciated