Hey...........This is my first post so I thought I might introduce myself before I start asking questions. I'm putting together a 364 Nailhead for my '27 RPU..........Ya, I'm into hot rods. I'm a metal fab guy and I have built a few motors in my day. I'm an old grey beard so you may have to talk slow. Here's my question.......I did a search and got some info on valve guide seals on Nailheads, seems like it's a toss up if they are needed or not. I was hoping this post might bring out some new information on this subject. I did a valve job on the stock heads, I have the tool to cut the guides for seals and to be honest I have always replaced seals on my motors. Kinda hard for me to put this motor back together without seals! What do you think? Thanks guys.
No opinion on whether or not you should install the seals, but here's a fact for you to consider. Buick only put seals on the intake valves in '66, the last year the nails were built. Lots of miles on lots of engines without them.
Buick didn't use seals on the guides until '66 & this was only on the INTAKES. None on the exhaust!!!!
The way I see it Fuzz, yeah they didnt have seals till 66 on the intake. But just because thats the way that buick did it in 66 doesnt necessarily mean that it is the best way. One thing that I have noticed on this website is that people have a lot of opinions, which is good! But, there are some that have opinions that may be a lil too strong and they think that there way is the only way. There is more then one way to skin a cat. I usually listen a little to everyones opinions and make my decision from there. I say if it is within the budget, throw the seals in. It will be peace of mind if anything since it sounds like you might want to put them in anyways. Goodluck my friend!
Also, I have had VERY good luck with Carmen Faso from NY. He is the nailhead king! You can always call him and ask his opinion. His number is 716-693-4090
If you use the original stock rocker assemblies you don't need seals. Some rebuilt replacement assemblies put out a huge shower of oil unlike the stock ones that nearly starve the upper valve train. In this case you need seals. Willie
Thanks guys for all the info.........I'm gonna leave things as nature and GM intended it. I don't want to turn down the valve guide to install the seals as this seems like a weak link in the valve train anyway.............Looks like it's gonna be good weekend!
Hey Fuzzy, I have found that the old fashioned umbrella valve seals from a big block ford works good on the nail head engines. that way you dont have to cut the guides and it gets enough oil to lube. get with your machinest and look at it. If you dont put a seal on the ex. side expect a puff of white smoke on start up, this is normal.
I looked at the larger umbrella seals and it looks like they might hit the inner springs............I will check out the Ford big block seals.Thanks.
Kind of an older thread but I thought I would add my 5 cents. We got our valves put back in today and the seals that came with the Fel Pro kit were to big. The inner springs will not fit over the seals. We decided to leave them out.
The umbrella seals for a ford will work and fit inside the springs.... I put them on the intake side only and run the exhaust side ''wet''.....
My '66 401 went together without them, - and it doesn't smoke. I had wondered about it at first, but then I started reading and it seemed that Buick only used seals starting in '66 on the intakes. I guess I'll see what it does when the engine gets old. I used to see a lot of old nailheads back in the day with wheezy valves, and they would smoke on deceleration, not as bad as a comparable Chevy though, but bad enough. These were all high-mile engines that had probably never seen anything but routine maintenance, as they were still used cars.
Just like I said, we got the valves back in last weekend and we will just have to wait and see what she does when we let her run again. The engine didnt have any seals before and from what the owner sais, it didnt smoke either. Dont worry, you will all hear about it when we get her back on the road.
