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Can anyone shed some light on the difference in valve seal types between different year model f bodies? I see 2 kinds of valve seals, 1 regular and 1 that looks like a top hat. I'm reading things saying LS1s up to 2001 use regular and 2001+ use top hat style. My car is a 2000 and has 853 heads currently but I'm swapping them out for some Advanced Induction CNCd 241 heads I have laying around. Does this mean I need top hat style seals? And should I get Viton or GM OEM as far as brands of seal? Thanks guys
Top Hat style
I have bare 243s and want to use beehive springs, is this what I need or do I need OEM spring locators ?
Silver_Bullet_Z28 , what did you find out since you posted this ?
The older seals use a separate seal and spring seat. The later ones us a combined seal and spring seat and look like the top hat you describe. The later seals are assured of staying in place because the valve spring will hold it down.
You can use either with beehive springs on your 241/243 heads, however if you use the older style you must install spring seats. If you are going with double springs, than you need the older style since the double springs will have different valve seats.
Thanx vettenuts, it makes perfect sense. So the Black intake/Tan exhaust refers to the old style that can be used with the separate beehive spring locators or dual spring locators. I have a WTB thread going to buy some OEM retainers and locks but now I know I do not need the spring locators.
One other thing sir. If I shim to installed height after a valve job, do the shims go under the hat ?
Thanx vettenuts, it makes perfect sense. So the Black intake/Tan exhaust refers to the old style that can be used with the separate beehive spring locators or dual spring locators. I have a WTB thread going to buy some OEM retainers and locks but now I know I do not need the spring locators.
One other thing sir. If I shim to installed height after a valve job, do the shims go under the hat ?
No, shims go on top. If you shim under the "hat" it will lift the seal up off of the guide and allow oil to get by. Just to be sure we are on the same page:
1. Beehive springs - New style seal with built in seat (all one piece top hat)
2. Beehive springs - Old style seal with separate seat
3. Dual springs - Old style seal with dual seat made for spring being used
Need advice on which design to buy 2001 5.3 silverado
Which design would be better 1st or 2nd valve seal? Not sure what is in there now probably 1st? Need a little direction I know this is an old thread but need some good advice thanks. I have a 2001 Silverado 5.3 vortec (LM7) Vin code T.
Hello, if you decide to go with non- top hat design......
Make sure you use Comp 519-16 seals, I got mine from Summit. If you use the kind with the viton inside the seal .... they might become floating seals!!!
Out of 16 only 4 where still on the guides after 1 year! Two floaters Oil river in the exhaust the one on the left is the type that floats The [middle] good one has a metal to guide surface...
Hello, if you decide to go with non- top hat design......
Make sure you use Comp 519-16 seals, I got mine from Summit. If you use the kind with the viton inside the seal .... they might become floating seals!!!
Out of 16 only 4 where still on the guides after 1 year! Two floaters Oil river in the exhaust the one on the left is the type that floats The [middle] good one has a metal to guide surface...
Ah what a pain, but that's a great tech tip. Thank you.
I think the reason why the seals floated up is...... the valve guides were wore out. Well, the machine shop reamed the new ones out too much, the second machine shop said that is why the valve seals floated. I thought they were loose when I picked the heads up after the earlier valve job, I should of had them redo it. that was about 10,000 miles ago and I put on the metal seals then. Then later I took the heads off because of noisy lifters and replaced the seals with the viton inside the base of the seals.
I do not mind when I goof something up, I learn from that. It pains me when I pay some one else to mess things up!
So which gm part would be best to get? Or should I get the comp ones?
What are you doing to the valves? Could use some more information. This thread has some good information ------- before I messed it up!
Stock valve train, the top hats. You do not need to buy them from GM.
Bigger sized springs that do not fit the top hat type, or duel springs, then the smaller ones.
Hope that helps.....
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Valve stem seals? 
Floating valve seals 
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