Stem Seals
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,078
Likes: 101
From: Riverhead New York
Stem Seals
Hi everyone, I've just finished installing new Valve Springs on my 327/350 while it is still on the stand after a complete rebuid. Heads were still fresh although they are 25 years since I did them last. Stem Seals were replaced 16 or so years ago and still seem pliable so I didn't touch them. My question is this, while inspecting the keeper grooves on the stems I found only one with a brittle "O" ring that came off the stem when I touched it. Only found on one stem. It was in the lower groove of two on the stem. (Keepers occupy upper groove.). Any viable purpose for this "O" ring? Thanks for your comments! Al W.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 953
Likes: 27
you must have a seal down on the valve guide correct? are they on the intakes only?
originally they were all built with only the o-ring you mention on all 16 valves.
someone has had your guides machined for the other seals and that's good.
with the guide seals you may not need the o-ring seals. but they are easy to install while you have it apart. you have to compress the spring down enough to get the o-ring on that lower groove. then carefully decompress the spring, making sure you don't tear the o-ring, and install the keepers.
do you also have the cup oil deflector at the top op the spring, directly under the retainer? a lot of times these are discarded. they are not really necessary when you have the guide stem seals below.
some new valves do not have the lower groove in them for the o-ring seal also.
originally they were all built with only the o-ring you mention on all 16 valves.
someone has had your guides machined for the other seals and that's good.
with the guide seals you may not need the o-ring seals. but they are easy to install while you have it apart. you have to compress the spring down enough to get the o-ring on that lower groove. then carefully decompress the spring, making sure you don't tear the o-ring, and install the keepers.
do you also have the cup oil deflector at the top op the spring, directly under the retainer? a lot of times these are discarded. they are not really necessary when you have the guide stem seals below.
some new valves do not have the lower groove in them for the o-ring seal also.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,078
Likes: 101
From: Riverhead New York
Originally Posted by ls6racer
you must have a seal down on the valve guide correct? are they on the intakes only?
originally they were all built with only the o-ring you mention on all 16 valves.
someone has had your guides machined for the other seals and that's good.
with the guide seals you may not need the o-ring seals. but they are easy to install while you have it apart. you have to compress the spring down enough to get the o-ring on that lower groove. then carefully decompress the spring, making sure you don't tear the o-ring, and install the keepers.
do you also have the cup oil deflector at the top op the spring, directly under the retainer? a lot of times these are discarded. they are not really necessary when you have the guide stem seals below.
some new valves do not have the lower groove in them for the o-ring seal also.
originally they were all built with only the o-ring you mention on all 16 valves.
someone has had your guides machined for the other seals and that's good.
with the guide seals you may not need the o-ring seals. but they are easy to install while you have it apart. you have to compress the spring down enough to get the o-ring on that lower groove. then carefully decompress the spring, making sure you don't tear the o-ring, and install the keepers.
do you also have the cup oil deflector at the top op the spring, directly under the retainer? a lot of times these are discarded. they are not really necessary when you have the guide stem seals below.
some new valves do not have the lower groove in them for the o-ring seal also.
Last edited by 67vetteal; Sep 2, 2006 at 02:02 PM.
