Valve Seal Replacement
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Valve Seal Replacement
I just bought a Valve Seal Kit from the Chevy dealer, However the parts guy didnt know what seal goes where. I have a few different ones in the pkg. Some are hard plastic white ones , while others are just black rubber types. Am I to assume the white ones are exhaust?
Also I cant seem to find a diagram anywhere showing how the valves are in the head, So I know which is intake and which is exhaust. If anyone could be kind enough to steer me right I'd appreciate it. Thx Frank...BTW anyone know where I can buy a pressure fitting to pressurize the cylinder?? Nobody seems to have one locally, course most of the guys I ask about it wanna know why I wanna put air in my cylinder..... Thx
Also I cant seem to find a diagram anywhere showing how the valves are in the head, So I know which is intake and which is exhaust. If anyone could be kind enough to steer me right I'd appreciate it. Thx Frank...BTW anyone know where I can buy a pressure fitting to pressurize the cylinder?? Nobody seems to have one locally, course most of the guys I ask about it wanna know why I wanna put air in my cylinder..... Thx
Pro
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 707
Likes: 0
From: Syracuse Utah
Don't know what year Vette you have, but the LT1s use the same seal for intake and exhaust. It is a moulded soft rubber type unit with a steel band around it and a very fine spring around the bottom. I'm not sure what L98s have but the typical SB had a hard plastic seal for exhaust and a soft rubber seal for intake. Look at your exhaust ports to determine which valve is the exhaust. Hope this helps.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,637
Likes: 2
From: Honeoye Ny
frank, if your just changing the seals, they won't last long. I imagine if it's smoking, the guides are shot. just changing the seal will last an oil change or two ,but thats it. now is a good time to yank the heads and get 'em freshened.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Its an 85 with 160K on it. Smokes when i first start it...after that its ok..But ya your right I should just pull the heads, But I gotta tell ya this car is drainin me dry $$$. Hence I was just thinkin about changin the seals
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,637
Likes: 2
From: Honeoye Ny
frank, keep your eyes peeled on ebay for aa used set of Vortec heads. the circle track guys have to run them in a few classes. You can usually get a fresh set for less than 5 bennies. Combine that with the scoggin dickey vortech baseplate and you got a real rip snorter.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
From the pic in my '85 GM Shop Manual it looks like the white banded seals go onto the intake valve guide and the umbrella seals go over the exhaust valve guide.
If you would like a copy of that pic send me an e-mail and I will respond with the pic.
BTW, there are O-ring seals in the lower groove around the valve stems; you will likely have to purchase these separately from the lower seat seals. You will need these as they will be brittle and disintegrate when removed.
Also, get a set of forged keepers for your valves to prevent a dropped valve due to old keeper failure.
If you would like a copy of that pic send me an e-mail and I will respond with the pic.
BTW, there are O-ring seals in the lower groove around the valve stems; you will likely have to purchase these separately from the lower seat seals. You will need these as they will be brittle and disintegrate when removed.
Also, get a set of forged keepers for your valves to prevent a dropped valve due to old keeper failure.
Last edited by 65Z01; Aug 23, 2005 at 09:47 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 171
From: Dublin CA
Exhaust uses the seal that is without the metal band. My suggestion would be to take the seals back to your Chev dealer and get a set of Fel-Pro intake seals for both the intake and exhaust. They will work just fine on the exhaust and will last. If you are getting smoke on start up only, you should be okay just changing seals. The heads will last a long time unless abused.
If you can't find the part, just take an old spark plug and knockout out the ceramic and weld a fitting to the plug. I shortened the fitting before welding and had no problems, even with plug #8. If you can't find or make what you want, send me a email and I will lend you mine.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Originally Posted by Frankj
I just bought a Valve Seal Kit from the Chevy dealer, However the parts guy didnt know what seal goes where. I have a few different ones in the pkg. Some are hard plastic white ones , while others are just black rubber types. Am I to assume the white ones are exhaust?
The results are instantanous. NO SMOKE!
Last edited by JrRifleCoach; Aug 23, 2005 at 11:16 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Originally Posted by John A. Marker
If you are getting smoke on start up only, you should be okay just changing seals. The heads will last a long time unless abused.
Oops... forgot one other part. A set of valve cover gaskets
