spridgets
[Top] [All Lists]

Valve stem seals with head on?

To: spridgets@autox.team.net
Subject: Valve stem seals with head on?
Date: Thu, 4 May 2000 21:26:15 -0700 (PDT)
OK, its not really on an LBC, but I'm hoping the list can help.

My daughter's Toyota Tercel has decent compression and may live forever, but
the valve stem oil seals are shot and the oil smoke on start-up is getting
pretty bad.  With the rat's nest of smog-related tubing and wiring snaking
all over the carb, I don't want to bother with it if I have to pull the head.
Has anyone else used the tool JC Whitney has, or any other method,to remove
the valve springs with the head on?  Of course the piston must be at the top
of the stroke so you don't drop a valve into the cylinder, and a piece of
bent copper tubing inserted through the spark plug hole just right can fill
up most of the space between the piston and the valve while the little
spring tool compresses the spring to get the keepers off.

Does this work??  I could probably milk another couple of years out of this
car if I can just change the stem seals.  The car was free from a friend for
past mechanical services rendered, but this could be its death knell if I
have to go at the stem seals the conventional way.  The labor involved would
exceed the value of the car.  Funny in a way, as I would view this job on my
Sprite as a fun few hours on a quiet evening. Of course the only wire to MY
engine is the coil lead, and the only hose brings the gas.

Thanks in advance,

Regards,
Glen Byrns
'59 Bugeye


<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>