What's the easiest way to replace a valve seal without pulling the heads? I heard something about setting the piston top dead center, putting some rope in the spark plug hole, and replacing it that way?
What's the easiest way to replace a valve seal without pulling the heads? I heard something about setting the piston top dead center, putting some rope in the spark plug hole, and replacing it that way?
IMO The method you've heard of is still the best way to keep the valve in place, with the only exception being compressed air via an adapter screwed into the spark plug hole. (I don't like the compressed air method personally, as it takes #1 the "compressor" to provide the air, and #2 that adapter, and finally #3. The piston has to be exactly at TDC, elsewise the compressed air will blow the piston back down in the hole.)
The good thing about the rope idea is that it can be done anywhere, you put the rope in the hole, rotate the engine around until it stops, and you're there...Compress the spring and replace the seal.
Make sure you have a second set of hands. I put some gt40p heads on my car that had been to a machine shop, but, sat around for about a year. So I wound up using the compress the cylinder method. Worked great but it was helpful to have two people for holding things in place. Make sure you have an automotive pick to help the those pesky keepers. It took me and a friend about 6 hours to do all 16 with fighting around longtubes on the drivers side and beer swilling.
Make sure you have a second set of hands. I put some gt40p heads on my car that had been to a machine shop, but, sat around for about a year. So I wound up using the compress the cylinder method. Worked great but it was helpful to have two people for holding things in place. Make sure you have an automotive pick to help the those pesky keepers. It took me and a friend about 6 hours to do all 16 with fighting around longtubes on the drivers side and beer swilling.
About a beer per cylinder. Plus, the longtubes were a nightmare on the drivers side with p heads. Plus we weren't changing the springs, we were changing the valve seals.
To the op, when you place the new seal make sure and have an automotive mirror so you can make sure it's seated all the way.