Valve Guide Seals for LS6

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May 11, 2011 | 07:48 PM

ZeeOSix

Thread Starter

Le Mans Master

Joined: Mar 2002

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From: PNW

Valve Guide Seals for LS6

Does anyone make an aftermarket valve guide seal that is supposed to be better than the GM part? If so, who makes them?

I was told by the GM parts dept that the intake valve guide seals are different than the valve guide exhaust seals. Not sure why.

May 11, 2011 | 08:05 PM

wfdlt8

Racer

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From: Waynesboro VA

They are different I just installed some and it is a fairly simple job.

May 11, 2011 | 09:05 PM

vettenuts

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From: At the beach in little Rhody

I have actually found the GM seals to be very good, not sure why you don't want to use them. Intakes are black, exhaust brown. Intakes are slightly more pliable and the exhausts need to take the heat. The one piece seal/seat on the 02+ motors are a slick piece that are held firmly in place by the valve spring. If you have ever had the seals come off the guides and ride up and down with the valves you know what I mean.

May 11, 2011 | 09:07 PM

81c3

Le Mans Master

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From: Communist Colorado

Anyone doing valve springs should replace the seals as well...its that easy....

May 12, 2011 | 12:27 PM

ZeeOSix

Thread Starter

Le Mans Master

Joined: Mar 2002

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From: PNW

Quote:

Originally Posted by vettenuts

I have actually found the GM seals to be very good, not sure why you don't want to use them.

Didn't say I didn't want to use them ... just wondering if there are aftermarket seals that are any better.

The OEM GM seals aren't real cheap either ... quote was ~$60 for a complete set. Can OEM GM seals be found at a better price from some of our site vendors?

Quote:

Originally Posted by vettenuts

The one piece seal/seat on the 02+ motors are a slick piece that are held firmly in place by the valve spring.

Maybe that's why they are a little pricey ... this is for a 2002 Z06.

May 12, 2011 | 01:13 PM

Paul 75 L82

Le Mans Master

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From: Blue Ridge Georgia

I just checked at Jegs and the Comp Viton seals are $16.00.

May 12, 2011 | 02:36 PM

vettenuts

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From: At the beach in little Rhody

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZeeOSix

Maybe that's why they are a little pricey ... this is for a 2002 Z06.

Note that an umbrella seal will require valve spring seats if you don't use the GM seals, so you need to factor that into the cost as well.

May 13, 2011 | 01:08 AM

ZeeOSix

Thread Starter

Le Mans Master

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From: PNW

Quote:

Originally Posted by vettenuts

Note that an umbrella seal will require valve spring seats if you don't use the GM seals, so you need to factor that into the cost as well.

I've never seen the setup on the OEM valve guide seals, so I'm kind of lost on the difference between them and umbrella seals. Here's some of the aftermarket valve guide seal for the LS6.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par.../N-jh4w9Z93xkd

Are the Comp Cams guide seals similar to the GM OEM seals? I'll probably just go with the GM seals. My Z06 only has 21K miles, but it is 10 years old now, so I definitely want to change them while I'm doing the valve spring swap (using PAC 1518 springs).

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May 13, 2011 | 05:22 AM

vettenuts

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From: At the beach in little Rhody

I have some photos at home, will try to remember to post them. The 02 seal sort of looks like a metal top hat.

May 13, 2011 | 03:10 PM

#10

ZeeOSix

Thread Starter

Le Mans Master

Joined: Mar 2002

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From: PNW

Quote:

Originally Posted by vettenuts

I have some photos at home, will try to remember to post them. The 02 seal sort of looks like a metal top hat.

That would be helpful if you can post some photos.

So correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I'm understanding is that the OEM valve guide seals have some kind of meal seat for the bottom of the spring to sit on?

Do these look similar to OEM seals? Click "Enlarge Image" once you open the link below.
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...9_207982_6534_

Also, I'm hoping that the PAC 1218 or 1518 springs will work with the stock valve guide seals?

Last edited by ZeeOSix; May 13, 2011 at 03:13 PM.

May 13, 2011 | 03:14 PM

#11

vettenuts

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From: At the beach in little Rhody

This is the seal that was on my Dart heads, same manufacturer and design as the GM seals. Note that the bottom is the valve spring seat. Any shimming for height goes on top of the seat, not under it.

May 13, 2011 | 10:47 PM

#12

ZeeOSix

Thread Starter

Le Mans Master

Joined: Mar 2002

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From: PNW

vettenuts - thanks for the photo. I see exactly what you're talking about now.

These Victor Reinz brand guide seal look similar ... not sure if they are a good brand or not. They show a different p/n for intake and exhaust like GM does. I'll just see if I can find some GM seals at a good price.

Click "Enlarge Image" once you open the link below.
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...9_207982_6534_

Jun 8, 2011 | 07:42 PM

#13

ducatisl

5th Gear

Joined: Jan 2011

Posts: 5

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From: Fort Walton Beach Florida

ZeeO6,

Did you finish your beehive spring install?

Seems to me the GM combo seal/seat has too much clearance to the I.D. of the 918/1518 beehive spring...if that's even a problem as it seems everyone just swaps the springs in, keeping the stock retainers/seals/seats.

Jun 8, 2011 | 08:23 PM

#14

NatB

Burning Brakes

Joined: Aug 2007

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From: Houston Texas

Why? With stock valvetrain - other than maybe the springs, why ?

Go with the parts made for your engine.

Jun 8, 2011 | 08:35 PM

#15

ducatisl

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From: Fort Walton Beach Florida

spring ID = 0.885
0.800 for OEM locator OD step on combo seal/seat

Doesn't that seem like a bit much?

Oct 11, 2011 | 12:59 PM

#16

SuzukiDan7

Racer

Joined: Sep 2011

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I'd like to bump this, hoping for some more info - I'm going to do the pac 1218 beehive springs in my 02 z06 this winter, and want to make sure I get the correct valve seals. Can anyone point me in a 'confirmed' right direction? Should I just get OEM ones from a dealer?

Oct 11, 2011 | 01:08 PM

#17

ducatisl

5th Gear

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From: Fort Walton Beach Florida

I went with the Manley 42336-16 spring seat and a Comp 511-16 seal.

Oct 11, 2011 | 03:22 PM

#18

SuzukiDan7

Racer

Joined: Sep 2011

Posts: 464

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How about these guys from Rockauto? OEM for .. ls1, ls6? I'm not sure if these will work:

VICTOR REINZ Part # B45921 {#12482063} intake
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=2651560

FEL-PRO Part # SS71039
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=447259

DNJ ENGINE COMPONENTS Part # VSS3166
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=1827364

Oct 11, 2011 | 03:33 PM

#19

ducatisl

5th Gear

Joined: Jan 2011

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From: Fort Walton Beach Florida

There's a bit of play when using the beehive and a OEM seal/seat, but people install this combination all the time. You might check your installed spring height as the OEM piece is thinner, on the order of 0.030'ish versus 0.060 for the Manley or Ferrea (SL1080) seat.