How do I replace the valve seals?
 

I am repacing the cam tower with a coated one. i have smoke coming out of the engine ONLY when I start up and I believe it is caused by the valse seals. can I access the valve seals when the cam tower is off? what kindof a job is this? A friend told me to use a compressor to keep the valve from falling into the engine when I try this. Please tell me of your experience. I want to do this and I think I can but I don't know how.

SmileWavy

i've heard of, putting the engine in Bottom dead center, removing the spark pulg and laying rope in the camber. that way when you remove them; the valves have nowhere to go, except to stay in place. i have never tried this, but it might help.

Yes an air compressor works. I have done it this way a few times. Safer than a rope.

You can make an adapter with a compression testing hose.

You will need a valve spring compressor as well. Take a good look at your valve stems. Some of the original valve stem seals were glued on (valve guides were smooth). The later ones had notches on the guide.

I added a little loctite 518 to help secure them on when I did one of the smooth guides. Otherwise they will pop off and create a really nice smoke show.

how does the compressor hose plug into the plug socket? what adaptor am i looking for?

rope sounds interesting??

can i just remove the cam tower to do this work?
ernest

The compressor idea sounds like you could use a Leak-Down Testor which screws into the spark plug hole and then air (from a compressor) is pumped into the cylinder. I beleive it has to be at top dead center for this to work as the valves must be in the closed position.

At the same time, you can see if you have any cylinder problems - like bad rings which could also be causing your smoking problem.

Vern

I've tried the compressed air before and it does hold the valves up in place. I wouldn't use the rope method although it might work...never tried it before. I tried it with this head and I couldn't find a valve spring compressor that would push the springs down far enough to get the keepers off. It was so much of a pain that I just pulled the head...figured it would be good to replace the head gasket anyway. Hopefully you will have better luck than I did.