Well I do not want to rip at my motor without knowing exactly what to use. I have been told so many different things to do and I do not know what is right. Do I want to buy two sets of intake positive seals and use it on the exhuast side too? Or do I want to just use what came off? Or do I want some other seal for the exhaust, the ones I have in my closet are nylon and look like hazy plastic. What is best to do, I know everyone asks, but I never see a clear way to go. Thanks guys.

 

Are you taking the heads off of the car?

I personally like the ones that look like rubber with two metal rings around them; one on top and one on bottom. I can't remember the technical name now.

You should actually talk to a head machinist that you trust and ask them. There are 4 million different choices for a small block chevy. He can tell you the pros and cons of each and then you can pick.

Good luck!

 

Don't just replace the O-rings that the factory used on the exhaust, or you'll be doing the job again down the road. Either use the positive intake seals on the exhaust valves, or use umbrella seals.

 

Umbrella!

That's the term I was looking for!!

 

I thought an umbrella seal is the same as positive seals. Also when I put these on the exhaust should I leave the o-ring seals off or put them on too?

 

No, an umbrella seal isn't the same as a positive seal. The positive seal is the one that fits down over the valve guide boss and has the metal ring and band around it to keep it snugly in place. The umbrella seal is a simple rubber cup that goes on the valve stem and moves up and down with the valve.

You might as well put the O-rings on as well, it won't hurt anything either way.

 

i wouldn't use the umbrella seals, i'd go with fel pro positive seals, you need a differant seal for the intake and exhaust. i've never used them but i'd look at using teflon postive seals, and i'd use the o rings too.

 

Fel-Pro's positive intake seals will fit on both the intake and the exhaust. I don't know if there are any teflon seals that will fit stock heads without machining.

 

and their exhaust seals will fit on the intake and exhaust, but that doesn't mean they'll last for long, actually my guess would be the exhasut seals would last but the intake seals on the exhauset side wouldn't.

 

I've got 5 years and 100,000 km on a set of intake seals on the exhaust valves so far. Viton's good to what, 400 F or so?