SR20DET valve stem seals

[JBB]

Hey,

Im about to replace the valve seals on my redtop, I have the head on the block and the motor is on an engine stand. Im really not looking to take the head back off so I was reading that I can use an air compressor attached to the spark plug holes (already have the adapter) to keep the valves from dropping into the combustion chamber. I dont have a compressor so I was going to go to home depot and rent one...I read that anywhere around 70-90 psi should be enough to hold them up, but my question is: what size tank do you all think would be sufficient? I believe the normal size compressor that they rent out is the pancake style 6 gallon, is that enough to get through 1 seal before running out of air or would that be pushing it? Thanks

[fliprayzin240sx]

Honestly, do it right, and just take the head off. Since you havent fired up the engine, your HG should still be reusable after you take the head off.

[JBB]

The only thing is that I dont have any more of that assembly lube that came with the ARP head studs and it was a bitch to torque them down. I felt so accomplished afterwards it just seems like Ill be killing my time taking the head back off :\

[codyace]

The adapter to hold the valves up isn't really that hard to use and is quite easy. A 5 gallon tank will work fine it's just going to run the entire time. If anything just do one at a time and let it refresh.

[ProbeGT]

You can go the old way even the dealers back in the late 80 early 90's were doing the rope trick, google is your friend for more info on this.

I have done both over the last 14 years working on car if the motor is still in the car. If the motor is out of the car I would pull the head but you're worried as you don't have any arp lube , you can use motor oil but you will have to email/call arp to find out the torque values for using motor oil and not lube.

[japslapsilvia]

I would be more concerned about seating the valve seals then amything else.. personally I say remove the head.. take springs out remove valves...change seals n reassemble.. plus the tool u r using isn't for that purpose (valve seal) its to change spings/retainers...I sure hope u have a way to seat the seals with the valves still there.

[quickdiversion]

When I was getting excessive blow by I actually blew all the new valve stem seals with less than 10k miles on them. So I replaced them with the motor in the car. All you need to so is:

1 - pull the spark plug, and put a long screw driver into the cylinder to see when cylinder 1 is at TDC. Then remove your springs. When valves drop they will still stick out more than an inch.

2 - Use a screw driver to gently pry up each side till the pop off, pop new ones on, put springs back on.

3 - Put spark plugs back in

4 - You can do cylinders 1 and 4 at the same time because they are in line.

5 - Remove the spark plug from cylinder 2, insert long screw driver, and rotate till it is at TDC.

6 - Repeat steps 1 -3.

7 - you can do cylinders 2 and 3 together cause they are inline.


You don't need fancy tools, just common sense.

Hope this saves you from over thinking it.

[JBB]

AWESOME guys, those are the answers I was looking for, really appreciate it

[quickdiversion]

when it comes to seating the seals a 12mm deep socket will seat them around all edges and will be deep enough to clear the stem .

[JBB]

So I just went to try this out and unfortunately the tool that I had (Lisle 36200 Valve Keeper Remover and Installer : Amazon.com : Automotive (http://www.amazon.com/Lisle-36200-Keeper-Remover-Installer/dp/B000P0ZJIS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371916968&sr=8-1&keywords=valve+keeper+remover)) was just too large to seat on top of the valve keepers. It looks like theres a smaller one but for some reason it's only sold as a set with the large one that I already have haha..
(Amazon.com: Lisle 36050 Valve Keeper Remover and Installer Kit: Automotive (http://www.amazon.com/Lisle-36050-Keeper-Remover-Installer/dp/B0012S61IO/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top))

[codyace]

So I just went to try this out and unfortunately the tool that I had (Lisle 36200 Valve Keeper Remover and Installer : Amazon.com : Automotive (http://www.amazon.com/Lisle-36200-Keeper-Remover-Installer/dp/B000P0ZJIS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371916968&sr=8-1&keywords=valve+keeper+remover)) was just too large to seat on top of the valve keepers. It looks like theres a smaller one but for some reason it's only sold as a set with the large one that I already have haha..
(Amazon.com: Lisle 36050 Valve Keeper Remover and Installer Kit: Automotive (http://www.amazon.com/Lisle-36050-Keeper-Remover-Installer/dp/B0012S61IO/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top))

That style sucks for doing it in car, as you end up knocking the keepers everywhere.

I like the bar/cantelever style setup.
http://onespeedfast.com/rabbit-forums/valve-tool1.jpg