KR81

Hi guys. Over my Christmas break as well as taking some things apart to clean and respray with heat proof paint, I want to change some gaskets on my engine, 305 tpi. What I mainly want to change is the valve seals, which I believe is the cause behind smoke on start up. The kit I'm looking at also comes with head gaskets.

So my question is, how hard are the valve seals to change? I'm by no means a mechanic, weekend/ backyard mechanic maybe but I do have some aptitude for mechanics. Since I might have the heads off if I decide to use the new gaskets, will that make the valve seals easier to change? And are there any precautions I should take with removing the heads?

I do have a Haynes manual + a workshop manual on cd, and maybe a friend to help but any advice from you guys would be greatly appreciated.

Here's a pic after a wash polish and wax need the engine bay to match!

eseibel67

G'day mate! Valve seals are a bit of a tedious job on a car with TPI and A/C, but I'm not sure how much interference you will run into under the hood on a right hand drive. You will need to find a way to hold the valves closed, either by a rope or compressed air in the cylinder. Get a good valve spring compressor that screws onto the rocker stud, the cheap tools don't work that well. Valve seals are very easy to change if the heads are off, but I'm not sure why you are thinking about removing them unless there is a problem.

Post some pics of the dash and underhood.

Good luck!

KR81

Hey eseilbel67 thanks for the reply mate! With the removing of the heads, I'm considering just having them totally rebuilt, since my above post I spoke to a friend who said if I wanted to do all that to just remove them and take them to a shop and have them rebuilt. The engine has only done 56000 miles according to the odometer but I don't know if that's legit or not and the PO didn't service it very often so my plan is to have everything on it rebuilt in stages anyway. I need to join a few Pontiac clubs here and meet some people who've done it all. Is it worthwhile do you think to just rebuild from the heads up ( plus new or rebuilt injectors new sensors tune etc... ) or better off rebuilding the whole engine in one hit ? New to all this, my first car worth pumping cash into and rebuilding, previous experience is all general servicing / maintenance. The most I've ever done is intake manifold gaskets on a v6 ecotec engine. All advice is welcomed.

Pics coming.

KR81

Pics as requested:








It is an 88, I got rid of the original wheel as I find it to be quite a horrendous looking wheel and completely out of place in a Trans Am. No idea why they stopped using the previous years wheel...
I am also trialling different gear stick *****.

TreeFiddy

Hey KR, you've got what I always wanted - a nearly unmolested black GTA - unfortunately for me, mine's the polar opposite . Where in Sydney are you?

Jersey89GTA

iTrader: (1)

Hey KR81

Your steering wheel is on the wrong side - bet you never heard that one

(BTW, That's a Trans Am not a GTA)


Ahhh, if you are a weekend warrior, not sure Id advise you to mess with the valves, I wouldn't.

Anybody can turn a wrench - but there's a bit more to know, springs, keepers, push rods, so forth.

I paid a mechanic to do it, he used the compressed air method, wasn't murder.

Also I would tear the heads off unless you have low compression. Your car looks like a 56K mile car, I wouldn't mess with it.

Heres a you tube on a valve seal job on a 86 305 engine.

KR81

Hey TreeFiddy, I'm on the north shore, where are you?

It's not actually a GTA, just a Trans Am.

Haha Jersey, that one never gets old lol.
Yeah I know there's heaps to doing it, not really keen on wrecking anything but really keen to learn. But yeah want to get this smoke blowing thing sorted out, gets a bit embarrassing. also think my fuel pump is on its way out so thinking of doing that too as well as a new sender unit. My fuel gauge does its own thing...

That's a good video, I'm 99% sure I could do it. I think the only thing that would **** me off is getting the spark plugs in/out and connecting the compressor hose for each cylinder while the engine is in the car, they're in such a dog of a position!

NagleMac

iTrader: (1)

Thats one of the nicest thirdgens I've seen. Obviously if you get the heads rebuilt they need to come off the engine, and once they're off the head gaskets NEEDS to be replaced. If you can get them rebuilt for a fair price, then go for it. If you want a little more performance you might even look into some cheaper priced roller rockers when reassembling.

KR81

Thanks man appreciate the kind words! There's a link to my thread in my first post if you're interested in seeing some stuff I've fixed up on it. At the moment it would come down to cost with the heads. I'm keeping this car forever so at some point it will have to be tip top condition, interior exterior and mechanically!

TreeFiddy

Sorry thought I saw a gta badge on there. Im out west, Seven Hills. Re valve seals, if yr doing them heads on, I found the rope method much less a pita than the compressor method.

KR81

If you feel like lending a hand don't be shy lol. You in any clubs ? It'd be good to meet some other Trans Am fans. Got some pics of yours? I occasionally do runs to picknpayless in blacktown in it for my daily and for friends so keep a look out for it!

Jersey89GTA

iTrader: (1)

Only way to get to them is from underneath the engine. They are a bitch.
That is the only way to learn, just think of all the new tools you get to buy.
I about to do my first fuel injector job. What the worse that could happen .... pay for a tow to the mechanic to fix it right ? LOL

Good luck w/ it and post some details.

TreeFiddy

Not in a club, I'm not really a club kinda guy. You're a fair ways away, but if you get in trouble give me a shout. Probably bump into ya at PnP sometime, only a couple km away from me. Lemme know next time yr heading down, we can park 'em up and cause a stir

Must get some pics up in vbgarage, for now there's some peppered thru my accident thread:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/body...y-bad-day.html

Yep, that sucked. Reminds me I must get round to concluding that thread.

KR81

Love buying tools lol. I've done injectors before on my old car. Pretty straight forward, it was a v6 ecotec engine in a holden. I think the ecotec is a Buick engine. I will post updates.

KR81

Wow man I would've knocked that kid out if I were you! All sorted now is it ?
Def be cool to get a few shots of them together, I need to pick a few parts for my daily in the next few weeks, wiper jets aren't working so I'll let you know when I'm going.

TreeFiddy

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