I'm sorry if this has been covered ad nauseum. I've read so many posts my head is spinning. I just saw a picture of a 3.5 SOHC with a valve cover removed. Here's my question: will the Snap On tool GA317 NOT work on this engine with the head still on/engine in truck? I thought I had enough info to start on a VSS replacement job, now I'm not so sure.....

The tool that works the best is the Schley (SCH91400B) Universal Valve Spring Compressor. I've used it, and it works great.

on the mitsubishi sohc and dohc v6 i do not think there is enough room to use the GA317

I've got the single cam engine...I've seen videos of the ga317 working easily on a dohc 3000gt...but the sohc 3.5 in the Montero looks like it has less clearance (At least in the pictures that I've seen). I'd love to know if anyone's actually used the ga 317 on a single cam 3.5 from a 99 era Montero with the engine in the truck. I'm on a severe budget and I haven't turned a wrench on this Montero. I just got it

answered some of your questions over here

http://www.4x4wire.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=1274444&an=0&page=0

I too did the valve seals in my 99 SOC. I did it with the heads still on the block, and all the main coolant lines still in place. Probably made it take a bit longer, but I didn't want to have to drain the system that I had just filled after a head gasket job.

Anyway, the most difficult part for me was removing the valve seal, followed by reinstalling the keepers.

The tool SCH91400B is exactly what I used. Again, rented from a board member for a fraction of the cost. Be sure to have a magnet handy to catch the keepers when they release.

Also, I don't think that pressurizing the cylinder head to keep the valves in place will work. Many of my keepers were stuck to the spring retainer or the valve itself. I had to apply some force on the valve via compression of the spring that would have certainly dropped it into the cylinder cavity. I ended up dropping 10 foot of flexible rope into the cylinder head (I did pressurize each cylinder to get it at bottom dead center), then turning the crank by hand to push the rope into the bottom of the valves. (google and youtube will give you a how-to)

I've borrowed and used SCH91400B in the past and it works great. In fact, I just ordered one off of Amazon so I can do VSS anytime! My favorite thing!

I have to do mine very soon. I'm smoking out the old people around here at every red-light. I've always used compressed air in the cylinder but I'm interested to try the rope trick because it seems more reliable. I'm always concerned that my compressor is going to pop the circuit breaker in the middle of the job and the valves will fall.

I have not watched the YouTube video yet, but do you simply insert 10ft of rope into the spark plug hole and then turn motor until that piston is TDC?

Use the compressor to get the cylinder at bottom dead center. Be careful, it will move all other cylinders too, so any rags you have in spark plug holes might get blown out.

I used a 10 inch piece of 1/2 inch (or 1/4 inch, not sure of the size) to help guide the rope down into the spark plug hole. I also lifted the pvc tube up about 1/2 inch and used my air compressor to shoot air down the tube to help "shoot" the rope into the cylinder cavity.

After the rope goes in, use a wrench on the crank and turn (I think I went clockwise) until the rope is mashed up into the underside of the valves.

It worked great, and I'm glad I didn't try compressed air. After losing a keeper, I had to let the rope sit in the engine for a week while I was traveling for work, and waiting for new keepers to show up.

OK, so I removed the upper plenum today. This is the first time I've actually turned a wrench on this thing. (I hope this whole procedure works otherwise I'll have a $2500.00 Mitsubishi boat anchor...oi!!). It wasn't SOOO bad. I'll be pulling the valve covers (hopefully) next weekend. So, you used a piece of PVC pipe to help guide the rope into the cylinder? I'm not sure I completely understand =:o. I've only got a small pancake compressor and I don't trust it to hold the valves in place for a prolonged period so I'm going to attempt the rope trick....

i thought you were done with this by now

be sure you have your digi cam handy and are taking lots and lots of photos of where everything goes!

I shot a bunch of videos doing the work a few month back... I'll make some quick edits and post something up in the next couple of days.

Unfortunately my memory card ran out when I was actually getting the rope down into the cylinder, so I don't have video of that... but I might re-shoot something to give a good idea of what process I used.


I think using the compressor is a bad idea unless you REALLY know what you're doing. The nice thing about the rope is that you can stop the project close the hood, come back to in in a weeks time, and everything is ready to start again where you left it. Even with 6 foot of rope in the cylinder cavity.