PINTO CAR CLUB of AMERICA
Shiny is Good! => Your Project => Topic started by: ricohman on May 22, 2016, 09:50:46 AM
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I am thinking about replacing the valve stem seals on my 79' 2.3.
Is this a difficult job to do? Special tools needed?
I imagine the seals are just crumbly bits of rubber by now and this engine smokes a bit. Only has about 30000 miles though.
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Have not done it on a 2.3 (in the car), but have on other engines. You will need to remove the valve cover, then the rocker arms. There are a number of ways to proceed from there. To keep the valves from dropping in the cylinder you can either add sustained compressed air, or place the piston at TDC and then fill the combustion chamber with thin rope. I prefer the rope method.
From there, there are a number of ways of compressing the valve spring. There are spring compressors that grab at the top and the bottom of the spring (like BBQ tongs) and then a knob is turned to compress the spring. This type may have interference with various aspects of the head. There are other devices that hook on the cam (to create a pivot point) and then you press via a lever on top of the spring retainer to relieve spring tension and remove the valve keepers with a thin magnet. This is also the method I prefer.
Time has probably hardened the seal and likely sitting for a long time (33K miles in 37 years) tends to cause deposits to adhere to the valve stem and creating a coarse surface that further damages the seal.
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Thanks for the tips. By the sounds of it I have to find or make some special tools.
But it's a hobby and I got nothing but time.
I have lots of tools and a compressor. Maybe I should save this for a winter time project and just enjoy the car for the short summer we have.
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This is the only special tool you need, I got mine on E-Gay or you could make one. With this tool it is very easy to do, never did it before and took me less than a half hour start to finish..
(https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSatyMuxuPUsCeupz762aavhg29-xPIp8p_cBD2lGTd33ziYFCY)
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Wow, so simple, yet so obviously effective.
Ricohman. The item Art has shown is a great idea. Not sure how much it cost, but it seems pretty straightforwar d. The type I discussed are sold as universal type compressors (see updated image). While the one Art recommends looks like it hooks under the cam and pivots on top of the valve retainer I'd think it would work equally well on a standard rocker shaft too. In fact I've used a short, round bar about 2" long with a hole in the center on stand alone rocker studs too. I don't think there is any need to make specialty tools.
Update, I've included a picture of the compressor I have.
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Yep, that's exactly how it works very simple. That's a Rotunda tool but there are copies out there pretty cheap that'll work just as good, I lucked out and found a used Rotunda(like new)for about $20, was well worth it...
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Well maybe I will order some seals then. I got to drive it around yesterday. And it was a lot of fun. I got my son to change the oil with me and we are going to do this together.
Some pics.
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/fj40/Mobile%20Uploads/20160521_184617_zpszjtp7yts.jpg) (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/fj40/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160521_184617_zpszjtp7yts.jpg.html)
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b400/fj40/Mobile%20Uploads/20160521_190859_zpsl0hgnpki.jpg) (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/fj40/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160521_190859_zpsl0hgnpki.jpg.html)
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Clean car.. 8) 8)