head problem

[82rock]

i built a 355 about 4 months ago, i removed the spark plugs to check the gap. 4 spark plugs were oil covered, due u think the seals could have been installed wrong? or sticking valves? how do you do valve seals with the heads on? thanks

[VileZambonie]

Does it smoke when you start it up?

[82rock]

light smoke, then clears up after driving

[Russ130]

Valve seals smoke when you first start it up then clear up immediately. Depending on how long it sits is how much it will smoke also. Yes they can be changed while on the engine but it will require a special valve spring compressor and an air hold tool. You have to have an air compressor to furnish the air for the air hold tool. There are 2 types of valve spring compressors that will work. One looks like a battery terminal remover and the other is a flat bar with a bend in it that is held on by the rocker nut. If it is the seals I would recommend the umbrella style seals as opposed to the o-ring style.

[82rock]

it has the umbrella style on it, is it possable that they were installed wrong?

[82rock]

when i was installing the heads i had to smack a few intake valves to seat all the way in, i thought that it would have cleared when the motor was running. would seafoam help this problem?

[Russ130]

You were smacking the valves while installing the heads? Now you want someone to tell you what is wrong with them? I can tell you without a doubt, you should of had the heads inspected and repaired while they where off. You probably have either bent valves or at best need new valve guides not to mention a valve lapping would go a long way towards improving the compression. I'd start shopping for another set of heads if I were you and this time I'd take them to a machine shop and have them inspected and if needed repaired before installing them.

[82rock]

the guy at the machine shop said it should be fine once i install the heads. i had them decked 30 thousands pressure tested the works. they said the guides were in really good shape, i wish i had them lapped. i put my trust in the machine shop and got screwed. time for a new set. thanks yall for the input

[Russ130]

Didn't that strike you as strange that you had to whack on an internal part to put the engine back together? I wish you lived near me cause I'd go give the machinist a piece of my mind for you. In the future avoid that shop like the plague and be sure to tell anyone that will listen how bad they are. Sorry to hear things went so bad for you tho.