[hassmaschine]

I finally got around to installing my MILVS - it was basically a solid 6 hour project (although I ended up blowing an hour looking for a E18 torx socket, ugh). I need to do some more tuning to dial mine in, but I wanted to share how I installed them.

I had practiced before on a head that I am not going to use (it has a lot of miles, and is coked up like you wouldn't believe). In that case, I didn't care if I damaged it by unscrewing the bolts that hold the tensioning springs too far out. I ended up using two shims and didn't seem to have problems. I also tested how far you could unscrew them before the bolts would rip out (a lot).

Another thing I tested was whether you could unclip the springs from the rockers without undoing the bolt. The answer was yes, although the way I did it was a little painful (and only possible on a stand).

Now when I went to do it in my car, I first tried just one shim under the spring. Not even close, it was wedged in there. Then I tried two shims. Still stuck, and I it seemed like I had to undo the bolt a lot more than I expected to fit them in there. Also, it seemed like tightening it down was harder than it should be (i was worried about cross threading the bolts). I basically wasn't comfortable at all, since if I did damage something I wouldn't be able to repair it immediately.

So based on my experience before, I decided to unclip the springs from the rockers, which allows the valvetronic supports to be removed (once the rockers are out of the way).

Basically with a bit of rope, you can pull on the spring from behind, and using a small wrench, push the spring off the rocker. Then you can undo the support bolts, move the rockers out of the way, put in the MILVS, put the rockers back, and using the rope and wrench, put the springs back onto the rockers (once everything is lined up. Tighten the support bolts and you're done - rinse and repeat!

Anyway, I made some videos of the process - apologies for the amateur quality, it's not easy to hold your phone and do this at the same time

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...7iX2L0QmQxtkor

Of course, I doubt a shop would do it this way (or maybe they would, given the IMO lower risk of damage). But for a DIY, I found it far more comfortable and less risky. You MUST take your time and be certain that all of the rockers are lined up correctly and clips are installed, but I think that is true regardless of how you do it (since the rockers can fall out of place when you remove the supports anyway).

[varoadking]

I really enjoy seeing you guys doing this kind of work, and especially in innovative ways. Bravo...

[Biginboca]

Why remove the intermediate rockers? Can’t you just unhook the springs from them and then swap the block out for the MIlV with the rockers in place?

I just loosened the 2 bolts pried the block out and tapped the new one in with a plastic dead blow. I didn’t want to move any of those rollers I was scared lol

[hassmaschine]

Not enough room. Even if you managed, they can fall out and you have to reposition them anyway.

[Taskmaster]

Interested in your results after the tune.

[desertman123]

Our N52 god is so gracious

[hassmaschine]

I just realized i dont have the "putting the spring back on" video. lol.

Well, it was late, i was dead tired, and i kept running out of space on my phone... I think it stopped twice in the middle while I was trying to film. But I'll follow up with a bench video (i have 2 spare heads), of course its basically the same thing in reverse.

Oh, heres the video from south africa that inspired me - people are so afraid to try, they just pay $100/hr for somebody else to do it for them... This guy literally used his shoelaces.

[The Nightman]

Very clever! But what happened to waiting for the gasket to leak?

Could you stick with 30 fps for these types of videos to save on space?

[hassmaschine]

Yeah, I was looking at it, thinking man, I have all the stuff already.. I even had 2 gasket sets and all the bolts. So why not?

I just need to clear some space on my phone. it's been telling me I'm out of room for like 3 months lol.

[CobraMarty]

Sweet, Thank You!!

[Phyrexia]

I see that E30 peeking...

[hassmaschine]

yeah, thankfully, I needed it to get to the store - I didn't have an E18 socket to get the strut brace off. I never actually found one, but ended up with a universal "spline" socket that did the trick. I have a set of E-torx sockets but they only go up to E16, and the one place in town that would have other sizes is closed on Sunday.

Also, O'reilly's can suck it. I don't think I've ever gone there without leaving disappointed. Such a waste of space, and the worst part is they put our other real autoparts store out of business..

[atmosphericM]

I also see those race pipes chillin...

Thanks for the video / info!

[hassmaschine]

Yeah, I was going to toss them in - but I realized I'd have to cut up the stock exhaust. I'll save them for the E30 instead. Nice pieces though!