Ongoing engine learning process... Valve stem oil seals

[Carrot]

Moving on - have now successfully done with pointers from here / mates / manuals -

Timing belt
Water pump
Rocker gasket
Sump Gasket
Brakes / Discs
Brakes / Drums

All successfully (relatively )

Think its time for something more challenging. Valve stem oil seals are going on my throwaway car (Matiz). Intend to take the head off in a couple of weeks and change them.

So, while the head is off and sitting on my bench - what else can I do (remember, very very amateur level stuff here guys - new to this) that is worthwhile doing? Engine has done 106k miles.

Currently my list is

Replace the stem oil seals
All the gaskets required
Replace thermostat & coolant flush / replace

Anything else you can think of?
Only extra tool aside from what I need is a Valve spring compressor? Seen a few on Ebay, they all look the same but range from £20 - £100


Any tips welcome

[trickywoo]

Can't you do the seals with the head in place?

[fatboy b]

trickywoo said:

Can't you do the seals with the head in place?

Bit trickey, as you'd have to take the collets & spring(s) off to get to the seal. You need a valve-spring compressor to get that lot off, so head off.

[Carrot]

fatboy b said:

trickywoo said:

Can't you do the seals with the head in place?

Bit trickey, as you'd have to take the collets & spring(s) off to get to the seal. You need a valve-spring compressor to get that lot off, so head off.

Did look it up, there are some ways of doing it, but to be honest part of the point of this is to learn how to do it so the head is coming off regardless.

[Otto]

doogz said:

Not always true, i've changed the valve springs and stem seals on a Ford CVH with the head on. You get a little valve spring compressor that bolts on and allows you to compress the spring with the head in situ.

Depends on the engine.

Yep - it's pretty easy, just need to make sure not to drop any valves into the cylinders while doing it! You can stuff the combustion chamber with rope through the spark plug hole to stop this.

[fatboy b]

doogz said:

fatboy b said:

trickywoo said:

Can't you do the seals with the head in place?

Bit trickey, as you'd have to take the collets & spring(s) off to get to the seal. You need a valve-spring compressor to get that lot off, so head off.

Not always true, i've changed the valve springs and stem seals on a Ford CVH with the head on. You get a little valve spring compressor that bolts on and allows you to compress the spring with the head in situ.

Depends on the engine.

I didn't know that. Though I think I'd still be inclined to grind the valves too.

[vrooom]

Yes, you can do it with head in place, It is so easy.
Use length of rope into spark plug, with piston down the bores, and turn the engine over using crankshaft (DONT EVER START THE ENGINE), It will push the piston up holding the rope and pushing the valves up.
and that way you can replace the collets and valve stem seals that way.
I made a special tool to get the valve collect. a tube with magentic attached to it.

1hr job doing that.

[Carrot]

vrooom said:

Yes, you can do it with head in place, It is so easy.
Use length of rope into spark plug, with piston down the bores, and turn the engine over using crankshaft (DONT EVER START THE ENGINE), It will push the piston up holding the rope and pushing the valves up.
and that way you can replace the collets and valve stem seals that way.
I made a special tool to get the valve collect. a tube with magentic attached to it.

1hr job doing that.

hmmm.... Interesting... will look into it.