LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

Changing Valve Seals

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Old Nov 4, 2005 | 06:33 AM
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Default Changing Valve Seals

Ah, the price we pay in Aggravation, Time and Money to keep these Cars going!
Changed injectors, reworked tune, now I suspect I have bad Valve Seals. What's the best way you guys have found to change seals without removing the heads. (AFR heads '94 Z28 LT1.)
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Old Nov 4, 2005 | 07:51 AM
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Most will say compressed air into the cylinders to hold the valves up, but that can be a major PITA unless you pull hte headers/manifolds. I've had good luck using rope and stuffing it in the cylinder at TDC..the valve won't drop much and it gives you something to push against if the keepers are kind of stuck. Plus you might not have a compressor anyway.
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Old Nov 4, 2005 | 09:04 AM
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The most difficult part of it and especialy if the springs are daul is compressing the springs on the rear cylinders. Crane cams carry a nice spring compressor to do them easily.
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Old Nov 4, 2005 | 11:12 AM
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When we did mine we did the 1/4 Turn TDC method. Valve drops but doesn't drop into cylinder and it was a breeze chaging my valvesprings, rockers, and valve stem seals. Then again I had more room on my car than on a F-body
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Old Nov 4, 2005 | 12:36 PM
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There isnt enough stroke on a stock LT1 to drop valves anyways so that shouldnt be a concern. Like buffman, I just turned the motor over by hand and followed the firing order.

What makes you believe that it is your valve stem seals that are bad?
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Old Nov 18, 2005 | 06:19 AM
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Originally Posted by brandboZ28
There isnt enough stroke on a stock LT1 to drop valves anyways so that shouldnt be a concern. Like buffman, I just turned the motor over by hand and followed the firing order.

What makes you believe that it is your valve stem seals that are bad?
I am loosing about a quart every 3 tank fulls, and I don't see anything on the ground to indicate a leak, but I also don't see any smoke out of the tailpipe, and the engine is really strong, which leads me away from suspecting rings. I suppose the answer will reveal itself eventually.
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Old Nov 18, 2005 | 10:03 AM
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Originally Posted by cmerc
I am loosing about a quart every 3 tank fulls, and I don't see anything on the ground to indicate a leak, but I also don't see any smoke out of the tailpipe, and the engine is really strong, which leads me away from suspecting rings. I suppose the answer will reveal itself eventually.
I would suggest doing a Compression test, if all your cylinders are within 10% of each other you can pretty much rule out the rings. Are you running cats?
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Old Nov 18, 2005 | 01:23 PM
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not running cats, what would be the issue if I was?
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