Valve Stem Seals Question

[MrSony]

Hey guys. I have a question. While I have the heads off the engine on my bedroom floor (fresh from machine shop, so clean as a whistle, and yes I will blow them out thoroughly before installation), the valve stem seals are kind of puzzling. I got these in the FelPro full gasket set, thank god I did 'cuz the dinky comp camps ones were WAY too small. http://www.jegs.com/i/Sealed+Power/...u0TStO8EFKyg4CDpv-luZEY5nh8Teckgs4xoCi_Tw_wcB they look like this. Exactly like the stock ones I pulled off. When I press the valve down in the head without the spring on, they come back up with the valve. Is this supposed to happen? Does it matter? It'd be so disheartening to fire it up for the first time in a decade only to have it blow smoke more than Bob Marley. Any suggestions?

 

[lilbowtie]

Question - are you installing the valve first and then installing the seal with the codom??

 

[MrSony]

The valve gets put in the head through the guide, then I put the seal over the valve stem and then slide of over the top of the valve guide area usig the "condom" sleeve things.

 

[lilbowtie]

If that's the case you must have the wrong seals for the guides - I assume these are olds heads and the older ones just used umbrellas

 

[MrSony]

The ones I took off the heads that were on there originally when I got it looked exactly the same, save for being hard and brittle from sitting. Same shape, color, size, everything. The engine had never been opened up prior to my ownership. It's a 1976 Buick 350.

 

[MrSony]

And every place I look for the seals for a Buick 350 lists the same type that I linked above.

 

[pontiacgp]

Even if the engine came with umbrella seals originally you can replace the umbrella seal with positive seals. You should install the positive seals with oil. The seal does not make direct contact with the stem but rides on a thin film of oil creating a hydrodynamic seal

 

[lilbowtie]

Look exactly the same but they come in different sizes - most common .530 & .500 guide size, and different valve size.
You don't know if they have been cut, just measure and get the right ones - they shouldn't slip off.

 

[MrSony]

Ok. Will measure them.

 

[pontiacgp]

if you look up your engine these are supposed to fit...Felpro SS70092-1

http://www.autozone.com/1/products/107914-valve-stem-seal-felpro-ss70092-1.html