Valve seals
#1
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Valve seals
The valve seals on my '79 have been leaking for the last year or so and I finally decided to do something about it. Wasn't sure of the guide diameter so I pulled a spring today and this is what I found:
If you look closely you will see the metal spring that keeps the seal tight on the guide is broken. I checked some of the others and found at least one more that is broken.
What would cause this? Also who makes the best valve seal?
If you look closely you will see the metal spring that keeps the seal tight on the guide is broken. I checked some of the others and found at least one more that is broken.
What would cause this? Also who makes the best valve seal?
#2
Le Mans Master
My preference is a Viton® umbrella valve seal. (Comp Cams, Manley, Lunati, Sealed Power or Fel Pro) I always use them on both the intake and exhaust and have never had any issues.
http://www.jegs.com/i/COMP-Cams/249/518-8/10002/-1
Is that a SBC or BB? Or is it just the picture that makes the valve look canted?
Good luck... GUSTO
COMP Cams 518-8
11/32" (valve stem) X .530" (valve guide)
(1979 standard SBC)11/32" (valve stem) X .530" (valve guide)
http://www.jegs.com/i/COMP-Cams/249/518-8/10002/-1
Is that a SBC or BB? Or is it just the picture that makes the valve look canted?
Good luck... GUSTO
Last edited by GUSTO14; 04-17-2017 at 10:55 PM.
#3
Burning Brakes
My preference is a Viton® umbrella valve seal. (Comp Cams, Manley, Lunati, Sealed Power or Fel Pro) I always use them on both the intake and exhaust and have never had any issues.
http://www.jegs.com/i/COMP-Cams/249/518-8/10002/-1
Is that a SBC or BB? Or is it just the picture that makes the valve look canted?
Good luck... GUSTO
COMP Cams 518-8
11/32" (valve stem) X .530" (valve guide)
(1979 standard SBC)11/32" (valve stem) X .530" (valve guide)
http://www.jegs.com/i/COMP-Cams/249/518-8/10002/-1
Is that a SBC or BB? Or is it just the picture that makes the valve look canted?
Good luck... GUSTO
#5
Le Mans Master
#6
Burning Brakes
improper install, or just plain cheap seals...Viton are good, I always use Fel pro personally...and I never use any seals that come in a cheap rebuild kit...
#8
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Showed the pic to the guy who did the rebuild on the heads. He didn't seem surprised. Didn't have an explanation, but said he's seen it before and he's using a different valve seal now.
#9
Drifting
"You may need to mic the valve stems to see if they are the same as the originals." Since the heads are non-stock you need to check diameters of both the guides and valve stems. My aftermarket BB aluminum heads on my 68 convert came with non-stock valves, so the Trickflow heads may have done the same thing.