So I'm assembling my rods/pins/pistons/rings, and I'm at the spiro-loc part. BwaahahahahahhhahahahahahahahhahahhahahH@(*$(@#$)@ (#$&)@#$&@#$*&@)(#$&)@#(*&$)@#&@#)$*&@#)&!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(help!)

a real thin pic, one that's bent on the end helps... separate the coil of the lock and feed one end in the groove, using the pick guide the tail of the lock around and into the groove.

and it's a lot easier said than done... biggest thing is patience, once ya get one the rest will be easier.


sounds like progress, glad to hear it PatMan ;)

I love my double snap rings. I think the man that came up with spiro locks should spend the rest of his days putting them in and then taking them out again.

Big Dave

I got a link from Mike Goble: http://kb-silvolite.com/article.php?action=read&A_id=9

...and that helped. Stretching 'em out first made a huge amount of difference. That saved my sanity. Two pistons done and installed, six to go. And so far I've only hung one of those two upside down! I'm batting .500! First piston took 90 minutes to assemble, second one was about 25. At this rate... http://www.stevesnovasite.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif http://www.stevesnovasite.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif http://www.stevesnovasite.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif

I just got through with that little part myself on my 496. I can tell you what I did.
I threw all the spiro locks in the trash, went and got some snap rings, they were too thin for the groove, so I took u-joint clips out of drive shafts, and those fit perfectly. I had to compress them then tap them into the grove with a hammer and screwdriver, but they fit perfect.

I'm getting the hang of it, and just took a break for dinner. I have a V4 currently! Halfway there...

a real thin pic, one that's bent on the end helps... separate the coil of the lock and feed one end in the groove, using the pick guide the tail of the lock around and into the groove.

and it's a lot easier said than done... biggest thing is patience, once ya get one the rest will be easier.


sounds like progress, glad to hear it PatMan ;)

i tol you an i tol you... and i tol you again ;)

ya know, if memory serves correct, spirolocks are a one time use only. so before ya assemble the engine... is this it ???

you may want to get snap rings instead of the spirolocks. back in the day i'd seen quite a few engines with piston/cylinder wall damage due to spirolocks coming loose/out.

ask your machinist what he recommends ;)