The Ford Barn

30Murray · 01-27-2019, 12:44 AM

I just spent the better part of 2 days trying to remove the valves from an old frozen and gummed up 59A that I'm hoping to rebuild. What a messy and horrible job! I read a number of guides on how to do this, but they didn't help much. No amount of forcing, prying with a pickle bar or swearing would get those #&$@ing little valve keepers out. Removing the guide keepers was also impossible.

I don't have a cutting torch so got out my die grinder with a 3in. cutting disc which just fit inside the valve cavity. I was able to make a verticle cut thru the spring coils. Once they collapsed, the keepers were fairly easy to remove, along with the broken springs. I could pry the valves up, cut the heads off, then pound the guides down with a deep socket. I got it down to about 10 minutes a valve. I just hope after all this work the block turns out to be good enough for rebuilding.

I'm sure many others have gone through this frustrating exercise, so hope this tip helps.

01-27-2019, 12:44 AM	#1
30Murray Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Vancouver B.C. Posts: 110	Removing valves from a 59A I just spent the better part of 2 days trying to remove the valves from an old frozen and gummed up 59A that I'm hoping to rebuild. What a messy and horrible job! I read a number of guides on how to do this, but they didn't help much. No amount of forcing, prying with a pickle bar or swearing would get those #&$@ing little valve keepers out. Removing the guide keepers was also impossible. I don't have a cutting torch so got out my die grinder with a 3in. cutting disc which just fit inside the valve cavity. I was able to make a verticle cut thru the spring coils. Once they collapsed, the keepers were fairly easy to remove, along with the broken springs. I could pry the valves up, cut the heads off, then pound the guides down with a deep socket. I got it down to about 10 minutes a valve. I just hope after all this work the block turns out to be good enough for rebuilding. I'm sure many others have gone through this frustrating exercise, so hope this tip helps.