[mightycarlo10]

This is probably a stupid question/ screw up on my part. These are 882 heads from a 75 Monte Carlo. I never checked this when i built the car, which i probably should have, but am i missing a part of the seal? I have the little plastic o-rings, but is there supposed to be a retainer or umbrella type thing?

I was planning on replacing the heads because the car smoked like a train and burned a lot of oil. I noticed it was strange that every single valve was leaking oil and all looked about the same amount. I just figured the heads were completely shot. So i was takin the valve springs off to swap to the new heads... then i noticed that most of the o-rings werent in the right spot, they were all up by where the first pic position is. Here's a couple of pics:

[cobalt327]

Originally Posted by mightycarlo10

I have the little plastic o-rings, but is there supposed to be a retainer or umbrella type thing? *snip* i noticed that most of the o-rings werent in the right spot

What you have is what's used from the factory. Sometimes, the O-rings get displaced when the springs are removed. It's also easy to get them installed on the stem but not in there groove at installation, as well.

Do you have the metal "umbrellas" or "deflectors" that fit over the tops of the springs? They fit over the spring, under the retainer and overhang the OD of the spring by an inch, give or take. These are needed to let the little O-rings have a chance at controlling the oil, IMHO.

Image below, left is an exhaust spring with the oil deflector and an exhaust valve "rotator"; right is an intake w/deflector and no rotator (rotators used on exhaust only- when they are used at all).

[fast68]

use the flat round ones like you have on all the valve stems

i always use umbrellas only on the exhausts

good luck

[mightycarlo10]

I dont hav ethe umbrellas, thats what i thought i was missing. The next propblem is, if i install these umbrellas and new seals, is that going to stop the leak? I dont want to get it all back together to find out that i need to take it apart again.

[mightycarlo10]

Well i put umbrellas on and installed new o-rings and it started and didnt smoke at all. So i guess its fixed for now.

[fast68]

yep thats all it needed and its a very commmon issue, the seals dont last forever with all the heat and oil cooking them and making them so brittle they fall apart.

most old untouched engines have this problem.

my 91 s-10 4.3L truck does it very badly big cloud of blue smoke at startup for a second at 196k miles but i dont care, its fine, just is the stem seals missing.


good luck