Thank you Ted that looks like the right stuff appreciate it.
Gary

I made a tool similar to the one Ted has shown but it's long gone. I had to change one spring on an FE motor and did it using a pickle fork. I use the rope method also, don't like the idea of valves against pistons.

Here are pictures of a couple of the tools I use with a rocker shaft devoid of the rockers for removing the valves springs from a cylinder head with those heads still on the engine.
 
 

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

send me your email,to 1948mercurey@gmail.com and i will send you picture.cliff t

i dought you have stainless keepers,that is the main thing i worry about,dropping them in the push rod holes etc. i can see ted using air as it would make the job easier. tho i have never had a issue. the limited no i do, and patience  has worked with piston at tic even each, valve is retrievable. stainless faves could be more of a issue. have no experience with stainless valves,are thy coated or are theycompletley stainless.

Just have the piston at TDC when working with the valves and you are not expected to have any problems assuming you are pressurizing the cylinders.  By design, the intake valves hit the edge of the cylinder and will not drop into the bore.  The exhaust valves are a different story though and can drop into the bores.  On my end, I pressurize the cylinders with the pistons at TDC and this allows the valve spring hardware to be removed without pulling the heads from the engine.  100 psi air pressure is adequate for this.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

thanks but I have stainless valves

Gary

get the proper tool,then remove all plugs use a soft wire and as each piston reaches tdc use the compresor,have a magnet ready with spring copresed retainer will be stuck to valve a light tap will loosen catch the retainers( 2 ) and clip they wher holding the main vs retainer with the magnet remove the spring and sprig retainer the vale will drop a bit and hit the piston. inst new vave seal pull valve up with magnet hold same while you push valve seal all the way down. re inst spring and compresor,spring retainers use heavey grease on the clips to hold them in place gentley back off cmpressor. you must be gentlel and acount for all parts. next spring and vave,follow fireing oder and on you go. not a easey job but beats  removeing heads

Thanks guys I was hoping to find something other than the hooks with the big thumb screw. I had an idea I might use an old rocker shaft with towers and make one from a rocker , maybe weld an open end wrench portion and make a fulcrum. I'll figure out something thanks.
Gary

You can use a length of rope fed into the cylinder and rotate the crank by hand to force the rope up against the valves.