well when i start the car when it has been sitting for an amount of time i get blue smoke for about a second just one puff. after that i can rev her up and down and no blue smoke. i know that valve seals are a constant problem with gm engines how hard are these to replace and how much am i looking at paying. i do all my own work b/c i have access to a shop tools and a good mechanic. any imput would be great thanks

 

It's a little time-consuming and a bit cramped, but not terribly bad.

You need some method of keeping the valves up while you remove the valve springs. My preferred choice is compressed air through the sparkplug hole (after the rocker arms are loosened/removed). Others bring the piston up to TDC, still others stuff a bunch of rope through the spark plug hole to hold the valve up against the seat.

If you're doing the job yourself, the parts will range from $15-$30, depending upon the quality you get and the number of gaskets you replace (such as valve cover) while you're at it.

You'll need a way to compress the valve springs while the heads are on the car. I prefer the lever type that folcrums on the rocker stud to the types that clamp and compress the spring.

 

Why do you prefer the lever type over the clamp type? What are the pros and cons?

 

Lever type is alot easier to use and quicker then messing with the clamp type that tends to slip from time to time.

 

Compressed air, as five7 mentioned, is one way.

Personally, i just shove a length of nylon rope into the combustion chamber and leave a tag end loose. Then there is physically no room for the valve to fall.

 

What size rope did you use? Also how much did you stuff in?

 

Ahhh it was a while ago. Before i had access to compressed air. Was slightly smaller than 1/4" nylon. I dont remember off hand how much i pushed in.

I unplugged the distributor's power supply, shoved the rope in the cylinder then bumped it over some. the piston mashed the rope against the valves. Once i was done, i just bumped it over some more to loosen it up.

It was time consuming. But, like i said, this was before i got my air compressor. If i were to replace the springs or anything like that, id use the air.