305(LG4) valve stem seals

[1320John$$$]

If it only smokes when it starts, it's valve stem seals. And if the valve guides are that worn, you can bet the seals are worn as well. Only "other" fix is to remove the engine, remove the heads, take them down to the machine shop and have them do a basic valve job and replace the guides as well as a surface job because all that moving and machining will probably gouge the sealing surface in one way or another. And new springs, retainers, keepers, and seals and probably a valve or two of some are severely pitted or galled. Probably machine the guides for the newer style positive seals. Not to mention the cost of labor.

OR

Replace the seals in a few hours over the weekend with a $7 parts store tool and a home made fitting to fill the chamber with air or bring the piston of whatever cylinder you're working on to tdc and shove paracord in there to keep the valve from dropping. Also get a thin stick magnet that will fit down the guide just in case. And if new seals don't solve it, hey, at least you only spent around $50 and a few hours of your time. If they don't, still only $50 and your time.

Remove the engine take the heads to a machine shop come on Man it’s a 305 You can buy knock off Vortech heads for what it’s going to cost to machine the junk 305 heads let’s not go wasting his money if he wants to do it himself And doesn’t mind a little elbow grease and likes tinkering with engines he can pull the heads buy a valve guide knurling kit save a ton of money and have that satisfying feeling of doing it yourself and get a little life out of the 305 heads This is what we used in the late 80s probably before you were born

 

[MrSony]

Remove the engine take the heads to a machine shop come on Man it’s a 305 You can buy knock off Vortech heads for what it’s going to cost to machine the junk 305 heads let’s not go wasting his money if he wants to do it himself And doesn’t mind a little elbow grease and likes tinkering with engines he can pull the heads buy a valve guide knurling kit save a ton of money and have that satisfying feeling of doing it yourself and get a little life out of the 305 heads This is what we used in the late 80s probably before you were bornView attachment 131678View attachment 131678

that's another option.
tbh for the price of refreshing the heads at a shop he can get a 350. idk where he lives, but on fb marketplace right now there's a 67 327/powerglide (lol) for $300 that don't look too bad.

 

[1320John$$$]

that's another option.
tbh for the price of refreshing the heads at a shop he can get a 350. idk where he lives, but on fb marketplace right now there's a 67 327/powerglide (lol) for $300 that don't look too bad.

He’s in Germany do they have tooling for small block Chevy’s in Germany

 

[MrSony]

He’s in Germany do they have tooling for small block Chevy’s in Germany

i mean
probably?
i'm willing to be something over there just so happens to be the metric equivilent to whatever tools the chevy guides would take. or any competent machine shop should be able to fill in the blanks, regardless of country.

 

[1320John$$$]

i mean
probably?
i'm willing to be something over there just so happens to be the metric equivilent to whatever tools the chevy guides would take. or any competent machine shop should be able to fill in the blanks, regardless of country.

Again the machining of the 305 heads Outweighs the cost of a new set of cylinder heads And in the end you still have to pull the heads off the motor so let’s just get him to buy a 350 target motor For a win-win

 

[MrSony]

Again the machining of the 305 heads Outweighs the cost of a new set of cylinder heads And in the end you still have to pull the heads off the motor so let’s just get him to buy a 350 target motor For a win-win

Well, now the fact that he lives in Germany is brought up, what will be the better option? Remachining what he has or trying to find aftermarket SBC parts, in Germany?

 

[lilbowtie]

Quite honestly as said above new seals will more than likely cure your problem. Not sure when chevy went with positive seals or a generic to work but I would install the the cap seal and an umbrella seal.

 

[pontiacgp]

I would be changing the valve springs as well, the original ones must be weak by now

 

[69hurstolds]

Or rip it out and put in a 454.

 

[pagrunt]

that's another option.
tbh for the price of refreshing the heads at a shop he can get a 350. idk where he lives, but on fb marketplace right now there's a 67 327/powerglide (lol) for $300 that don't look too bad.

Keep in mind that the '69 & up heads are the ones with the accessory holes for the alternator/power steering/A/C bolts. I agree from him being in Germany buying new could be a better deal plus that 305 could be some nice "American yard art" over there.