Technical Sbc valve seals

Tearing down a sbc for a project car. Started disassembling the heads tonight. Has anyone ever taken the heads apart and found no valve seals? I compressed the spring and pulled out the retainers. Removed the compressor and took off the springs. There are no seals on the valves?

 

Lots of stock type heads ran an o ring in a groove right under the locks--also many folks don't run them on exhaust--best to fix guide top as needed and run a good quality metal clad seal with viton rubber--that is best way to go

 

If it's an early engine it might just have O rings seals.Sometimes the seal is so deteriorated that very little of it, if any, remains on the valve stem.

 

If it is the O ring type and they are gone good chance they are all packed in the oil pump pick up.

 

Ok so all I need is o rings then? The new valve spring kit I got came with these

 

You can machine the top of the guides to accept the those seals. Tool should be available ...Do a search

 

My valves

 

The stock type o rings work just fine.

 

Must be an Australian Chevy.

 

If you don"t want to machine the guide boss, Use FORD umbrellas seals cheap and work much better than the gm orings..

 

So do I put the o ring on the valve and then compress the spring and put the keeper on?

 

Compress valve, slip o-ring on, then lock, careful to release as straight as possible or the retainer will tear the seal, you'll figure it out..

 

Thanks everybody. I gotta get this thing done. Hopefully it's gonna be warm here soon to cruise!

 

When you install them put some oil on the O ring so when the retainer comes up it wont try to roll the O ring up out of the groove.

 

Quick tip, if you use the Perfect Circle type seals use a 7/16 deep socket to drive them down over the guide boss. Perfect fit and won't damage the seal.

 

Before you waste time w/seals , have you checked the guides ? how about the valves ? how about the seats ? how about the heads for cracks ? What's the point of seals w/o checking out the heads& valves ??
dave

 

One of the most common problems with a Chevrolet engine. The o-rings deteriorate with time and simply fall off. If the engine smokes when you start it, air up the cylinders and change the suckers. It's not a big job.

 

'Cause this is a really easy job, costs next to nothing, and can be done by someone with moderate skill in about an hour.

 

And w/a SBC head [especially 1 that looks like the OP's] an excercise in abject futility !!
dave

 

Engine ran fine before it was pulled. Just upgrading the cam, timing set, and oil pump before I put it in the truck. I figured for the price of it id put new valve springs and seals in too. Should be a healthy little cruiser when it's all done

 

Did this many a time on SBC's. Those you have in the bag look just like Ford units, I'd use them and forget the O rings, they won't be needed with that kind of seal.

 

Put the new o rings, springs, gas and keepers on this afternoon. Hopefully I can assemble the engine and roll it out to paint it this weekend