Valve guide fix
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Miami, Fl, USA Fl
Valve guide fix / Make that SEALS
I have really bad valve guides on cylinders 3 and 5. What special tools are required to do the job. I have read the posts from Silly Question of the Evening. and like the rope in the cylinder trick. I have the basic hand tools for most any job. Who's valve guides are the best to use for this? Can't we file a class action suit against Chevrolet. I am the 4th owner of this vette with 51k miles and you would think the these vehicles would not have this problem yet be so wide spread too. I have a 1966 olds toronado with 69K miles and it doesnt smoke a drop. Boy, If there were a way to get that 425 into the vette .......
[Modified by GOTVETT, 3:17 PM 3/3/2002]
[Modified by GOTVETT, 3:18 PM 3/3/2002]
[Modified by GOTVETT, 3:17 PM 3/3/2002]
[Modified by GOTVETT, 3:18 PM 3/3/2002]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 9,662
Likes: 7
From: Semper ubi, sub ubi
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: Valve guide fix (GOTVETT)
I don't know of a way to safely replace valve guides while the heads are on the car. You can replace valve guide stem seals, quite easily, but the guides themselves, no.
Valve guides can be knurled to give them a little more life, but it isn't worth the trouble, you'd be better off having all the valves and guides replaced by the machine shop.
What you probably have are cracked stem seals, it isn't the mileage on those parts that kills them, it is exposure to contaminant in the oil that cause them to crack and degrade. Don't blame GM, the very long life polymer materials didn't exist when your car was built.
Spend a weekend changing you stem seals, use an air compressor to hold the valves up or use the nylon cord trick to keep them from falling, and put on new modern stem seals.
Once you get started, it won't take you long to do it.
Valve guides can be knurled to give them a little more life, but it isn't worth the trouble, you'd be better off having all the valves and guides replaced by the machine shop.
What you probably have are cracked stem seals, it isn't the mileage on those parts that kills them, it is exposure to contaminant in the oil that cause them to crack and degrade. Don't blame GM, the very long life polymer materials didn't exist when your car was built.
Spend a weekend changing you stem seals, use an air compressor to hold the valves up or use the nylon cord trick to keep them from falling, and put on new modern stem seals.
Once you get started, it won't take you long to do it.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 405
Likes: 31
From: Houston, Texas
Re: Valve guide fix (Smokehouse69)
I replaced all my valve seals without compressed air. Just make sure that the piston is at top dead center by marking your balancer in quarters and follow the firing order turning the crank a quarter of a turn (you can also set the lifter preload after replacing the seals). Buy the spring compressor that fits over the top of the spring. I used the lever type and found it hard to reach with carb on.
You will need a pair of needle nose pliers to lift the valve stem slightly once spring is compressed to engage the valve keepers.
You will need a pair of needle nose pliers to lift the valve stem slightly once spring is compressed to engage the valve keepers.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 13
From: Europe , Luxembourg
Re: Valve guide fix (Milest)
Hi
Don't forget to close the oil drain holes of the heads that go back to the block, otherwise a dropped valve keeper half might be a lost one. :nono:
Gunther
Don't forget to close the oil drain holes of the heads that go back to the block, otherwise a dropped valve keeper half might be a lost one. :nono:
Gunther
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,010
Likes: 3
From: Moon Twp. PA USA
Re: Valve guide fix / Make that SEALS (JIM)
Class action? WTF are you talking about?
