baron5

1987 corvette convertible with aluminum heads. I am replacing valve stem seals. My question- On the exhaust side My kit comes with 8 O rings and 8 white umbrella type seals. When I took the valve covers off and removed the springs the exhaust side only has o rings. Am I just using the O rings and discarding the other seals? They are not on my valves now.

Hot Rod Roy

I would recommend installing the umbrella seals on the exhaust valve stems, even though they aren't on your engine now. The O rings fit into the lower groove of the valve stem. Compress the valve spring and retainer, then slide the O ring into the lower groove, then install the keepers.

A magnetized screwdriver is a huge help when installing the keepers!

VikingTrad3r

agree with hrr.

i actually install intake seals on both intake and exhast valves but the umbrellas are great too.

use the umbrellas and the o rings on the exhaust.


JoeC guided me through the setting of valve lash and i used a feeler gauge that had been lubed with oil and it worked perfectly. you should be able to find it with google.

VikingTrad3r

one of the best quick vids on the seal aspect:

baron5

Thanks. I wasn't quite sure if I should use them. I think you guys have told me exactly what I wanted to hear. I will finish and let you know how it works. Thanks again!

Hot Rod Roy

I'm not sure how to comment on that video. He doesn't meet my idea of clean! And the hammer!!! No thanks. Use a deep socket to push the intake oil seals into place, rather than a hammer, please! And it would have been good to mention that the spring retainers for the exhaust valves have valve rotators in them, so you don't want to get them mixed up with the non-rotator intake valve spring retainers.

The seals for the intake valves fit much tighter than the seals for the exhaust valves because the intake ports have vacuum, but the exhaust ports do not.

baron5

I've watched several videos. Following a procedure of clean parts, one spring at a time putting everything back in the same order. Making sure seals are in correctly without damage and keepers in correctly. Oh and I have a nice magnet on an antenna handle for keepers.
Thanks

kael

Hmm, when I did those in the Spring I recall researching and finding many saying, no don't use the exhaust "seals". The factory didn't.

They had some reason, I forget what it was. More oil on valves? Didn't put them on mine.

ddahlgren

In what seems like a previous life it was so long ago, the seals are generally not the problem it is the stem to guide clearance.

Benny42

The factory saves every cent they can. I put the umbrellas on mine (several cars) because i don't want the "smoke on start up" issue to return. Ever. It works.