A customer contacted us as engine refused to run.
He had it towed over and we analyzed the OBD-II data and then yanked the valve covers to find two 3rd party valve springs broken and other springs too weak as the top of the valve stems were beat up

Customer had bought this 1998 coupe few months ago and it was clear the car was supercharged in the past and the fact the threaded holes for the rockers went right through the heads to be exposed to the cylinders that the heads had been ported.

Customer bought the springs, keepers, retainers and keys from Crane CAM and we used the spring tool of their's that clamps down over both springs for 1 cylinder.
The tool is not perfect but much better then the single spring tool, esp as we did this with heads still on engine as seen on far right of image below

Notice in other image the tops of valve stems on a few beat up and the spring 2nd from right is broke

As I get deeper and deeper into racing, it is clear, given my difficulties in finding a mechanic that will do what I want when I want, that I am going to have to learn to do my own wrenching. Thanks for sharing this stuff, JR, it really helps. Someday I'll have the guts to get into an engine, put it together, and think to myself, that wasn't so bad! I mean, I do spinal and heart surgery, so I must be smart enough. Problem is busting up my knuckles doing it and then having to do surgery afterwards. Oh well, thanks for putting these cases together.

Thanks,

Greg L.

The spring on the left is what the height should be
Spring in middle is weak and has lost some height
Spring on right is broke in the center

WIth the spring installed you could barely see it was broken
Like a clean break of spring being to hard and just cracking