md
Part of things
Posts: 839
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my friend has bought a new engine for his civic (a B18c4 to be precise) but he's been told the valve stem seals are shot and need replaced.... and me being the only person he knows that is vaguely competent with cars, he's asked me if it's something I can do (I've already been roped in to fitting the engine)
I've never rebuilt a head before but it sounds to me like i'll need to pretty much completely strip the thing - how hard is it and what tools am I going to need? or should i just tell him to take it to a professional? :/
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I've made adaptors from gutted spark plugs, steel tube, and air fitting welded together, to use compressed air to leave the head in place. Or there's the rope trick, not used it though.
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'66 Amazon <-> '94 LS400 <-> '86 Suzuki 1135 EFE
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too high a risk of bending valves doing that.
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bortaf
Posted a lot
Posts: 4,549
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too high a risk of bending valves doing that. How exactly? why it's differant to using a vavlve spring commpressor with the head off ? using an adapter for compressed air is the factory way to remove valves on a few engine, the pinto for one and there are factory tools for doing it that way  it doesn't matter what you use when the valve is shut with the head supported by by the seat it's about as safr as it gets, wether you use rope, air or a spring compressore IMHO |
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R.I.P photobucket
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bmw156
Part of things
Posts: 796
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Why not take the head of as well and do the head gasket while your there. If you feel confident.
Changing the stem seals isnt to difficult, but it is basically taking the head all apart. I wouldnt fancy doing it with it on the car.
Buy a spring compressor, take it all apart, number the valves so you know where they came from. then get the seals out.
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djefk
Part of things
Posts: 844
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He describes himself as vaguely competent with cars and has never stripped a head before, so to me that suggests that even changing the seals in situ is about at the limit of what he'd want to attempt (esp. if the car isn't his). MD please correct us if we're wrong on this assumption?
Personally I'd go with the rope trick as I agree with Bortaf's reasoning, although before doing anything I'd get the replacement engine running to check if what your friend has been told is true first - No point doing a job like this unless it's needed eh?
Don't forget to whack a new cambelt on the lump while it's out of the car mind!
Let us know how you get on, sounds like a rewarding mini-project!
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Last Edit: Dec 9, 2011 3:18:50 GMT by djefk
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md
Part of things
Posts: 839
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He describes himself as vaguely competent with cars and has never stripped a head before, so to me that suggests that even changing the seals in situ is about at the limit of what he'd want to attempt (esp. if the car isn't his). MD please correct us if we're wrong on this assumption? yes and no - I am pretty limited in experience of rebuilding engines but if I'm going to take on a job then I want to learn to do it properley so if that means rebuilding the head then so be it and yes, my mate saw the engine running before he bought it, so pretty sure it is the stem seals, especially since the headgasket and cambet were done less than 10k ago (will probably do the belt again anyway as its easier while the engine is out) |
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Dec 11, 2011 23:00:25 GMT
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Hi You need to decide how much the job is worth to you... I take it as your friend isn't having it installed "professionally" he isn't rolling in it. If it was me all the money I saved on doing the job myself would be spent on as many new parts as possible. New head gasket, cam belt, water pump and complete headset. The head gasket may just have been done but it would give me piece of mind to do it again. Whilst the head is off you can check the bores and the face of the cylinder head. It is slightly unfair as I have a reasonable amount of mechanical knowledge/experience but I would prefer all the jobs to have been done by me. As for the difficulty of Valve stem oil seals. I have rebuilt a couple of heads and never broken one. I have seen them broken by processionals and amateurs when being installed. I would recommend taking the head off to do it as you can do the camshaft oil seal/s and reseat all the valves. A proper job for around £75- £125 worth of parts. This would give you a proper sorted engine and some valuable experience. If you are ever in the Bournemouth area of are willing to stump up the postage I'll change them for you. Alex PS- I have put "professionally in "" for two reasons firstly I don't believe that they have the same attention to detail as a competent amateur working on his own car nor the ability to take his/her time to ensure that things are done properly. This is not a put down on all mechanics just a secret control freak |
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