OK i hae a 1989 TPI350 and it seems to have a leaky valve seal, on start up it puffs smoke from the drivers side exhaust (its true duals) so that leads me to believe it is a valve because it does not smoke after start up. Does anyone think any different as i am not a mechanic, and if it is the valves how much would this normally cost me to fix at a shop and can it be done with the heads in the car?

 

Are you mechanically inclined? It's not that hard if you have an air compressor, valve spring compressor and can adjust your valves. You just need to pressurize the cylinder your working on, compress the valve spring, pull the valve locks out, pull the spring off, then replace the valve seal. Then reverse the steps to put it back together. I've used the end of a compression tester on my air compressor line to screw into each spark plug hole when i've done them. You could pick up a set of umbrella type seals at Napa. It's really not a major job and they can be done with heads on the car easily.

Ken R.

 

Ok thank you for helping out, i dont have an air compressor so i may just see how much a mechanic will charge to do it for me - if it doesnt cost me an arm and a leg i may have him install some new rockers.

 

it sounds like valve stem seals, my answer to it is,
its a Chevy thing deal with it ,

if it bothers you alot its not that hard of a job, just make sure you have a reliable air source

 

Yea im going to deal with it for now, its not fatal but it has inspired me to update. Im going to buy assembled Vortec heads, along with a vortec style intake base, and some 1.6 rockers. If i get the 1.6 rockers do i need longer pushrods or anything special? I'm not very knowledgable on heads so i may need help picking the right combo.

 

Rarely do you get away with just dropping valve stem seals in it and it lasting like that… usually the seals start leaking when there is enough play in the valve stems to egg out the holes in the seals

 

why not buy brand new aluminum heads that work with your base for around the same cash as Vortec's and a vortec base?

 

it will cost alot more than i can afford, i only have 1100 to play with including the heads and installation...

 

edelbrock doesnt make any heads that fit a non vortec emissions equiped TPI system anyway it seems.

 

yeah they do e-tech preformer or something like that, its a direct bolt on,

they are about $1100 and install yourself