I was talking to someone today that supposedly knows a lot about SBC engines, and when I told him about my valve seals needing replacing, he said I should go ahead and pull the heads to replace the gaskets too. He said if the valve seals are leaky for too long, that it causes the head gaskets to get brittle. Is there any truth to this?

 

dunno about that, but the way that im being shown how to replace the valve seals you have to replace the head gaskets anyways, so i couldent hurt to do it either way

 

Once you take the cylinders off to get to your Valves.. you wouldnt want to put an old head gasket back on. I don't think they seal proper after you take them off. You probably need new head bolts as well.

 

I know some people can change the seals without removing the heads, this guy was saying he wouldn't, because the head gaskets are probably shot too.

 

you "DO NOT" need to remove head to change valve seals . i have changed several sets with the air pressure method . when you have the valve covers off clean all sludge/gunk buildup off the top of heads . pay special attention to the drain holes at the lower front & rear of each head . clean them good , they allow the oil to drain back to crankcase . good luck .

 

Valve seals have nothing to do with the head gasket on any engine. If the head gaskets are not leaking then leave them alone. As UNCLE TOM mentioned you do it by the compressed air method and the heads remain on the motor.

 

Uncle Tom, you should come over to Alabama and change my seals for me, it's just a quick trip on I-10. j/k

Honestly, I can't find anyone around here that wants to touch a job like that. I even called a Corvette specialty shop in Pensacola, and the guy told me to put racing oil in it and live with it . The engine uses no oil other than the puff at startup.

I do have to add coolant every now and then, but I can't figure out where it goes, I dont see any leaking or white smoke. There used to be some dripping at the firewall, but that stopped when I changed the heater core and hoses.

 

The one reason I might remove the heads to do valve stem seals is if I were going to machine the guides for push on seals. Most later GM engines use o-ring valve stem seals that seal the stem to the retainer, then they use an umbrella around the spring to prevent excess oil from getting to the guide. The o-rings get hard and pass oil, plus the guides wear and allow excess oil to pass anyway. The intake valves may have press on seals but the exhaust valves don't (at least as memory serves me). The shops you're dealing with probably don't want to do the stem seals without replacing the guides and installing push on seals because they don't want you coming back with the same problem.

 

Like others have said, removing the heads isn't a must to just do valve seals. Did you tell the guy you were losing coolant? Maybe that's what gave him the idea of the head gaskets being brittle. Or the guy you're talking to may be saying that if the valve seals are worn out, then the engine probably has a lot of miles and doing head gaskets would be a good idea too. Changing out just the valve seals won't help if the head gasket is failing, but it sure as heck won't hurt it either.

My only problem with pulling the heads is that is it tends to snow ball. Along with new head bolts, you should resurface the heads before putting them back on assuming they have a few good miles on them, and it's a good time to do a valve job while you're there, new springs can't hurt either and so on.

 

I did, but it was after he said that.

 

[quote=80schild;5230829]Uncle Tom, you should come over to Alabama and change my seals for me, it's just a quick trip on I-10. j/k

sure , i'll be happy to do it for you . bring it over to my place/shop . from I-10 take hwy 63 north about 18 miles . my rate is $55.00 per hr. , you want to help ? great , you help $99.00 per hr. . i estimate about 2 weeks +or- 14 days . parts , cleaners , elect. , air comp. , lunch & after work beer all extra . 2 cases of beer to even start . "SUCH A DEAL , YOU CAN'T PASS IT" O.K. ?

p.s. did i mention that i'm almost 73yrs. old ? (true age) (j/k)

 

LOL. Okay.

I've actually been to Escatawpa a few times, the last time was when I had my '89 IROC, that was about 12 years ago. I live near Atmore, about 45 minutes NE of Mobile.

 

Mine was the same way, had to add coolant once in awhile couldnt figure out where it was going no leaking nothing..turned out to be head gaskets, both were shot. So we replaced those and its been good since then! Also did valve seals along with head gaskets, still seems to burn a little oil on start up but not to bad! Overall pleased with it