first off i have an extra head that i already broke down to get a feel for the procedure...

ive read the haynes manual procedure, just got a couple questions...

do i have to use camshaft lube when putting it back in? or can i use some clean oil? just reusing same cam...

can i put the cam seal in after the rocker arm assembly is back in? or does it have to go in with it already inserted?

last thing i got the springs off farely easy but the old seals?!?!?1 whats the trick? is there a special tool? i put pliers on them and pulled up,but im affraid im gonna slip off and scrape stem...

 

Just soak them in oil. Use vice grips, you're going to fight with them. Use a twist-and-pull motion.

 

if the head is off and you removed the valve springs why don't you just take the valve out ???

 

There's a tool for valve stem seals you can buy for about $20 that will make your life easier. Search eGay for a general valve stem seal removal tool.

Since your cams are used just re-install them with a nice coat of oil. When I do head work I change the oil and pour the oil directly on the cams (avoid the spark plug holes)

When putting on the new valve stem seals do not hammer them on. With the force you can exert with your arm you can "click" them into place with a socket or a valve stem tool

 

A pair of vice grips are $2 at Harbour Freight lol. Use a 10mm 12 point socket to push them back on.

 

I tried a pair of vice grips on mine initially and ended up chewing the **** out of them, and fighting them one at a time. It's up to you in deciding what your time is worth . Spend 1-10 minutes on each seal or $20 on eBay. You pick.

 

I used some sort of pliers or something to take my stem seals off, wasn't hard. I gripped the top half or so and sorta rocket it and they came off. To put them on, it was some size socket on a nut driver. Worked freakin sweet.

 

Doesn't the service manual recommend putting the head on hot plates and heating to 150F to remove them, or is that the valve guides that I'm thinking about?

 

I just recently changed mine. I spent 20 minutes on 1 with pliers and then a vice grip and said f it. I bought the tool off ebay for $15 and pulled them all in under 5 minutes.

 

hmmm i might try to find this tool

 

I spent maybe 10 minutes taking all mine off. Maybe it's not the tool that's the issue.

 

For my GSR head I used the vise grips, they were a pain, but I didn't soak them in oil so that may be why. I twisted/pulled/ and moved side to side, some came off fairly easy, some took about a minute or 2 to get off.

 

I'm all for doing things cheap, but its only $15 bucks to do it right. How much is it to get new valve guides installed if you mess one up with the pliers? If it was something that SHOULD be done with pliers/vicegrips, why would there be a tool for it? To me $15 for a tool is definately good insurance, but to each his own.

 

I got it done! Easy but time consuming , hardest part was probably getting old seals off, got the special tool, and u still gotta work each seal pretty good but easier then pliers...
Oh and did with head on car, no air or rope, just did outside pistons first tdc, they won't fall in, drop like an in before they lay on piston head, then put rocker ARM assembly back on, rotate crank, then do inner pistons

 

Have you installed the valve springs yet? I'm curious how you finished the job, sounds interesting.

 

Man this thread brought back memories from when I did the valve seals on my d16 head. I definitely do not miss crawling around looking for those keepers

 

yea i put everything back together, its been a week now, no issue except im still burning oil which means its time to pull the pistons and swap the rings...

just pull up on the valve stem before u put the compressed spring over and even if u manage to push the stem alittle u still have clearance to get the keepers in, its close but doable

 

that is for the guides.


I've only ever done them with vice grips, it's not that hard, but you'll fight them.

 

Currently doing this as well as doing a DIY valve lapping job for a new much awaited nitrous build I was able to finally fund. Got about 4 of em off n said screw it. Lap the valves whiley r still in the head then pull em out when I get the head hot tanked lol.

 

Tool that makes removing and installing keepers easy:

 

I have the lisle tool and it does work nice. It has magnets to grab the keepers.

Found it for $15 on ebay.