Valve seals
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,488
Likes: 4
From: Frostburg MD
Re: Valve seals (1990CORVETTE)
It's not that hard, it could be done in a couple of hours. You unbolt some things that are in the way of the valve covers then take them off. Remove the rocker arms and pushrods, depending on what spring compressor you are using. Remember which valve they go to, they may have a wear pattern on them. Remove the spark plugs. If you are are using an air fitting, it theads into a spark plug hole, other end goes to an air compressor to hold the valves shut. Do 1 cylinder at a time. Tap the retainer on top of the valves to loosen the locks. Compress the spring, remove the locks and retainer, then remove the spring. Change the valve seals, then reinstall the springs, locks and keepers. Do both valves on that 1 cylinder, then move on to the next one. When they are all done, reinstall the pushrods and rockers and adjust them, reinstall valve covers then you're done. I'd guess maybe 4-5 hours to do it if you've never done it before.
Alot of people would replace the valve spring when changing valve seals, since you'd have then off anyway.
Just take some time and do them all in order and you should be fine.
[Modified by shotchkiss, 10:47 PM 2/3/2004]
Alot of people would replace the valve spring when changing valve seals, since you'd have then off anyway.
Just take some time and do them all in order and you should be fine.
[Modified by shotchkiss, 10:47 PM 2/3/2004]
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Valve seals (1990CORVETTE)
You should:
-change lower seals & upper O-rings
-toss the tin oil shedders
-install new machined keepers
-set lifter preload to 1/2-3/4 turn past zero lasth
-install new valve cover gaskets
I planned on a Sat to do this job the first time, since I didn't have compressed air and had to feed a rope into each spark plug hole and rotate the engine to assure the valve wouldn't drop when the spring was removed.
-change lower seals & upper O-rings
-toss the tin oil shedders
-install new machined keepers
-set lifter preload to 1/2-3/4 turn past zero lasth
-install new valve cover gaskets
I planned on a Sat to do this job the first time, since I didn't have compressed air and had to feed a rope into each spark plug hole and rotate the engine to assure the valve wouldn't drop when the spring was removed.
