I'm so sick of seeing blue smoke at start up!!! I know most of the $$ is in labor so I'm thinking of doing it myself. Any tips??

Would it be cheaper just to buy a new set of heads?

 

If i recall, it goes like this...
I've not done any valve seal on heads installed on engine, put it got to be easy on a SBC.

valve cover off, got a big , special tool that compress the spring, you need something to hold the valve there so it does not fall in cylinder, (we use air from an air compressor, with a fitting like when doing compression test) then use a ruber hammer to "free" the retainers wich i forgot the name(the 2 littles pieces), release spring , take it off and pull the old valve seal with long nose or whatever you have.

oops forgot, slack the rockers , or even remove if in the way, so the spring compressor can compress the spring

I think it's the good procedure (i went to mechanic school, if i recall, this is what to do) but i havent done it so far.

when done u must retighten the rockers, and the only way i know is with the engine running...

 

The way that works best for me has been to remove the spark plugs, get #1 started on compression, feed about 2 feet of nylon rope into the spark plug hole (put a knot in the end so it can't all go in) rotate the engine by hand, until the rope is just being pinched by the piston. Now you can go ahead and remove the valve locks, keepers and springs on #1. Change the seals with umbrella style seals and reassemble. Back the #1 off so you can get the rope out and move on to the next cylinder.

 

i would use positive seals over umbrella, the positive seals seem to be much better, and i'd use the o ring too. measure from the top of the stud to the top of the rocker nut and replicate it when you reassemble and you won't have to run the valves, or they'll be very very close and take only minor adjusting.