It should be noted you can make the tool to do it on the car yourself. Instructions are located here:

http://www.plymouthlaser.com/scomp.htm

You DO NOT need use compressed air to keep the valve from falling into the combustion chamber. A much safer alternative is to rotate the crankshaft so that the pistons are top dead center in the chamber you are working on. This way, if a valve falls down, it won't go anywhere. I've done this many times with great success. Its a lot of work, prepare for at least 10-15 hours of labor.

 

this is the tool that I use to install springs/retainers on the car:

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....re&dir=catalog

It works very very well. I wouldnt say it takes 10-15hrs of labor, for a cam & valvetrain install in the Evo application my shop bills out 5.5hrs. The tool above will pay for itself the first time you use it, Ive had mine for about 4 years and I use it a couple of times a week LOL

-bill

 

I've done this with the head on the car and don't recommend it. The head is much easier to work on when it's out of the car. The chance of mis-installing a keeper or having something drop into the oil pan is also greatly reduced. The tool shown above requires quite a bit of force to compress Ferrea's dual spring set-up. Also using air to pressurize the cylinder is almost essential.

 

Thanks to the guys in post 16-18 for your feedback.....

It sure is not worth risking losing a keeper or any other valvetrain part into the oil passages of the motor....

 

i wana know this also ,do we really need to upgrade valve springs and retainers wid hks280 ?i wont be goin above 8000 rpm as ive already got my 2.3l short block so shud i change the springs and retainers or shud i stay wid the stock 1s .

 

da stok wunz r 0k

 

if you stay below 8000 RPM's your fine, as with the stock EVO fuel cut off is like 7800 I think, 200 more rpms is not gonna hurt