I feel that it is imparative to upgrade my AP1 valve retainers and the oil jet banjo bolts to the AP2 versions. Are these tasks fairly easily done at home, or should I take it to a shop.

Science of Speed is logistically hard for me to get to. Who else has done this ?

 

I would take it to SOS.

I haven't done this but I'm assuming for the retainers, you'd need that tool that holds the valve and then a good torque wrench.
That's not too bad but the oil jets you reach from under the car, which means taking off the oil pan. It is not easy re-installing the oil pan without it leaking. Reaching the oil jets from the bottom does not seem hard if you're comfortable laying under the car and again, you'd need a good set of tools.

Maybe there is more to it as I'm sure someone who's done it will add but you can gauge the amount of work by where the parts are located. Look at YouTube videos, S2ki walkthroughs, and the Helms book.

 

Mark
You won't able to do this at home by yourself. You need to get someone who knows how to do this work. Reach out to Hiro (aka leshiro99). He lives on the West Side. He's works at Honda and can tell you how much it will cost whether you take it to a stealership or have him work on it.

 

Thanks, guys.There are threads that talk about doing this work and I do have some tools, but not everyone. I'm not afraid to get grease on my hands, but I don't want to screw it up, either. I have the Helms manual. The only tools that I don't have are the one needed for the retainers that you buy and modify, and maybe one for one of the oil pan bolts that seems hard to reach from under the car. I have a jack and jack stands. I do get under the car for transmission and differential fluid changes.

 

I would really suggest taking it to a professional. If it goes wrong, that gets very expensive quick. I've been working on cars for years and I'd be reluctant to do that job on an assembled engine without the proper tools. There's a very real chance that you can irrevocably drop a valve while doing it and that will leave you needing to pull the head to recover the valve. There are cheater ways to try and get around that, but that makes it an even longer and more arduous job. Reassembling the rest of the valve train has to be spot on too, otherwise that lead to operational problems once you have the engine back together.

 

If you have to ask, you probably cant do it. Look at the DIY and see if those things scare you, I don't think its that difficult of a job as long as you have the correct tools. Having the valve spring compressor and the attachment to fill the cylinder with air are the most uncommon ones. The only thing you have to watch out for is dropping the valve into the block.

 

I accidentally replied and deleted previous post. but if you are going to do it, keep everything clean, and precise. dropping parts, debris in engine will cause serious consequences.. even tiny debris can cause vtec problem, or worse oil starvation. So be carefull.

 

I do use a tech at 91st ave and camelback for my Ford GT, Audi rs6, land cruiser etc. He is very familiar with Honda as well,and probably as inexpensive as you can find. Jeff @ 6027630911

 

Thanks for the replies. I value every one. I don't have an air compressor ( wow! Another tool to buy, and the specialty tool that needs modifications. I've read the DIYs, and these tasks are just a step above what I'm experienced with. A valve adjustment: OK, more than that I'll go with a more experienced hand. I'll ask a lot of questions on something I haven't done before. On paper, I feel that I could do it, yet I don't want to risk blowing my engine, either. A few bones will give me comfort. Thanks for Jeffs number. Science of Speed just doesn't fit my work schedule, unless I take time off. What dealership does Hiro work for? I'm in central Phoenix, so it seems that S2k mechanics are on the far edges in either direction.