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SD1 Vave stem seals?
Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 12:38 am
by Jono FD3
Guys, I've just pulled the heads apart to get them all checked, decked and ported..... and when I stripped the valves out I noticed that the valve seals were like rubber washers..... is this correct as all the stem seals I have fitted act like a top hat and sit snugly on the valve guide!!
Jono
Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 4:37 am
by sidecar
That's what the seals are like on the early heads.
Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 7:29 am
by marcjagman
Never seen a RV8 with valve stem oil seals, mine is an 11A engine, SD1, and that doesn't have them, should it?
Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 7:53 am
by sidecar
marcjagman wrote:Never seen a RV8 with valve stem oil seals, mine is an 11A engine, SD1, and that doesn't have them, should it?
My understanding is that the very early heads had no seals, later heads had flat rubber washer type seals which were not much good. Later still heads had 'proper' seals.
Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 8:23 am
by DEVONMAN
Don't know the date of the upgrade (maybe early 1990's) but all later engine have propper cup type oil seals and the valve guide has a groove to locate them.
Cheers Denis
Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 12:15 pm
by Jono FD3
can you fit the later seals to the older style guids??
I know it would probably mean putting a grove in the guide, but that can be done with a dremal I'd of thought??
Jono
Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 12:32 pm
by kiwicar
Yes it can be done with the addition of a grove, or buy later valve guides with the grove in and fit them.
Best regards
Mike
Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 6:53 pm
by Pocket rocket
marcjagman wrote:Never seen a RV8 with valve stem oil seals, mine is an 11A engine, SD1, and that doesn't have them, should it?
that's 'cos they get chewed up and disappear after a certain (short) amount of time
Can't find 'em in my rebuilt 3.5 but I know I fitted them only a couple of years ago
Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 8:20 pm
by gelmonkey
Opel Manta 2ltr cih engines have VSOS that fit straight on bit of p*ss.
Done it loads of times ,never had a problem.
Cheers
P
Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 12:00 pm
by Jono FD3
So the old manta stem seals fit on the old rover guides you say (the ones with out a ridge)??
Jono
Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 2:15 pm
by gelmonkey
Yep
Small rubber cup with a spring around the top.
Slide em over,bit of threadlock job sorted.
cheers
P
Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 2:26 pm
by sidecar
If you go fitting seals to heads that were not made to take them you should check that the valve spring retainers do not hit the top of the seals. Weak checker springs and a couple of old lifters that have been filled up with glue or wax will help you carry out this task. They will probably be OK but it would be a pain in the ass if they hit!
Just my humble!
Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 2:59 pm
by gelmonkey
Hi Pete
Obvoiusly this would depaend on the cam but I can honestly say that I have never had a problem with this.
Long time no speak,will catch up with you soon(work has been a mare so far this year and is just starting to slow down now)
cheeers
P
Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 5:55 pm
by sidecar
gelmonkey wrote:Hi Pete
Obvoiusly this would depaend on the cam but I can honestly say that I have never had a problem with this.
Long time no speak,will catch up with you soon(work has been a mare so far this year and is just starting to slow down now)
cheeers
P
Hi Mr. Monkey,
You modification sounds like a good one and is well worth doing on the older heads.
Cheers,
Pete
Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 7:50 pm
by Jono FD3
can you do this with stock rover stem seals (the ones that come in the kit).... or does it has to be the Manta ones due to the size of the valve guide??