Puff o' smoke...

[Doober]

I had my dad go on a drive in his truck with me today to see what my speedometer actually reads (65% of actual speed :shock, and he said it lets out quite a puff soon as I let off the gas, and smokes a hair on deceleration (coasting in gear, not braking), smells like oil. I put new valve seals on the heads last year, but I'm not sure I did them right, and I'm considering changing them again if I can find a good how-to, or if someone has a good trick on doing it (may even just put a set of umbrella seals in that I already have).

Anybody have any links or good info?

 

[t5montecarlo]

You will need a spring compressor for use on the engine. It sort of looks like a pry bar.

If you don't have access to compressed air, you can use rope.
After removing the rocker arms, put the piston at TDC and push rope into the cylinder until you cannot push any more in. Then, you can compress the spring and remove the spring retainers without the fear of dropping the valve into the cylinder. It sounds cheesy, but I have done it.

There is probably a very detailed write-up with pictures somewhere.

 

[slim69]

if u didnt put umbrellas on it to begin with and u used the o ring type i would definitly put the umbrellas on the o ring seals suck

 

[Doober]

It has the positive type that sits over the valve guide base.

I've done valve seals on an engine before, I'm not too concerned about that, I'm just looking for any proven methods for properly installing these seals. A couple didn't go on all too well last time around, and I'm thinking about trying to find an installation tool and doing it again.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Good ones come with the install tool. It's basically just a little plastic or vinyl sleeve that goes over the valve stem to keep the seal edge from being cut by the valve keeper grooves.

Tommy

 

[Doober]

I put Fel-Pros on. Didn't have a problem getting them over the valve stem, but I'm not sure I got them square when installing them on the valve guide.