Valve seals and splash shields
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Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 79
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From: San Diego, CA
Valve seals and splash shields
I have a set of valve seals that includes umbrella seals for the exhaust.
1. If I use the umbrella seals, should I ditch the splash shields? I’ve read something about the combination of O rings, splash shields and umbrella seals not allowing for sufficient lubrication.
2. If I were to throw out the splash shields, I would need to shim the spring, correct?
3. Just to verify, the O ring goes in the LOWER groove on the valve stem, correct?
Engine is L98 with 113 heads CC 981-16 springs, OEM valves, retainers and keepers.
1. If I use the umbrella seals, should I ditch the splash shields? I’ve read something about the combination of O rings, splash shields and umbrella seals not allowing for sufficient lubrication.
2. If I were to throw out the splash shields, I would need to shim the spring, correct?
3. Just to verify, the O ring goes in the LOWER groove on the valve stem, correct?
Engine is L98 with 113 heads CC 981-16 springs, OEM valves, retainers and keepers.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 1,312
Likes: 384
From: Northern California
The FelPro kits offer 8 blue silicone valve guide seals that slide down over the head boss and are held in place by those circular springs around them. Those are usually for the intake valves, although some people prefer to use them on both intake and exhaust.
They also offer 8 exhaust valve guide seals that are commonly called "umbrella" seals, they are not blue silicone but white-ish plastic and they ride up and down with the exhaust valve shaft. This works fine on the exhaust valves.
What do you mean when you say "splash shields"? You mean the factory metal skirt that surrounds the top of the spring? Those stay under all circumstances that I'm aware of. Don't throw them out.
The O-ring goes into the slot where the retainer pieces (those half conical things) clamp around the O-ring. Yes, the O-ring goes into the lower groove.
They also offer 8 exhaust valve guide seals that are commonly called "umbrella" seals, they are not blue silicone but white-ish plastic and they ride up and down with the exhaust valve shaft. This works fine on the exhaust valves.
What do you mean when you say "splash shields"? You mean the factory metal skirt that surrounds the top of the spring? Those stay under all circumstances that I'm aware of. Don't throw them out.
The O-ring goes into the slot where the retainer pieces (those half conical things) clamp around the O-ring. Yes, the O-ring goes into the lower groove.
