What is this car part and what does it do?

[Acheron]

In a headgasket set, the 16 bronze coloured 'cones' on the bottom right of the picture. They are metal with a red rubber seal at the tip.

Also in the picture, hard to see but dead centre, is a small piece of metal about the size of a postage stamp, covered in a blue rubbery plastic with a tiny hole in the middle.

What are these bits for and where do they go?

[Rotary Madness]

I think the bronze cones are replacement inserts for your cam cover? Thats the only logical thing i could think of...

[steveo3002]

valve guide oil seals

[Davey S2]

They dont look very important.

I'd leave them out if I were you

[balders187]

Valve stem oil seals.

[Acheron]

steveo3002 said:

valve guide oil seals

Thought this might be the case. Any serious ramifications for not changing them? I've not had the valves out and dont intend to, its just a simple head gasket job. There's nothing to suggest the current seals are damage or fault.

[The Wookie]

Well the symptom of failure is a puff of smoke on startup when the car has been sat for a while. Obviously if they've gone completely it'll be worth replacing, but I can't imagine this is any exception to the adage of 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'