Valve seals

[Jaysin]

I've got a few questions:

I just removed the front head and have started removing valves to clean and lap them (Intake valves are HORRIBLE BTW! Damn EGR I would guess) I was wondering if there was a way to tell if the valve seals needed replaced or if I should just do it anyway. I have never removed valves before so I don't know what they should/ shouldn't look like.

Also, I read that you could remove the heads without removing the exhaust manifolds however the front one required removal due to a poorly placed bolt that holds the coolant line and the dipstick tube to the head. This bolt is behind the manifold. This is on a 95 Monte. Do I just suck that bad or is there a trick?

Thanx!

[SappySE107]

RE: Valve seals

You should change them out since you have the head that far torn down. Also, its much easier to just remove the front exhaust manifold to get that bolt out. Its the rear manifold that I have left on to be pulled attached to the head.

[Jaysin]

Thanx for the info. I'll just get new seals. I found one of the valves bent when I removed it. Not sure how that could have happened with a non-interference engine. Can you buy and replace just one valve or should they all be done. Also, does anyone have a set of valves for sale from an old head?

[SappySE107]

You can get a pair of valves from rockauto.com. If you exhaust valves are seriously pitted, I would replace them all and get a valve job done. The intake valves usually just need to be cleaned up...unless one of those is bent.