The 'E' Type Forum

I'm currently rebuidling the engine. Lots of good news, numbers match, no cracks or bent head or any of the serious stuff. But this engine must have been apart, and then assembled to sell, not to run. It had 4 0.020 pistons and 2 STD . Both cams were just installed without syncronizing to crank. Thankfully I couldn't turn the crank by hand, or I would probably have bent a valve.

All is better now, many new parts going in. My question is valve stem seals. There were none in the head, but as you can see from the text above, that doesn't tell me anything. So:
-Did the 3.8 use valve stem seals?
-Only inlet valves, right?
-There are two kinds?
-One kind needs machine work to fit?

I'm Assuming that you have a Jaguar parts catalogue....it lists all the parts.....Steve

Steve, the RTFM replies don't really help me. My SPC and my Service Manual do not mention the seals, but both are from 61. Reading online it's clear that they came later. Therefore I ask the 3.8 group of people here a very simple question, what have they seen on their 3.8 engines...

In your original post maybee you should have said that you searched the parts catalogue but could not find the information.....I did not tell you to RTFM....Oil seals were only fitted to inlet valve guides from December 1966 onwards (from engine No. 7E11668, 7E52687)as far as im aware

Well, maybe I should have, but I take it for granted not to ask questions that 5 min of reading in my 10+ E-Type books would tell me...

Hi Mikael, i fitted valve stem seals to my 3.8 when it was re-built on the inlet side only,.The new valve guides i fitted had the groove in the top so they can be fitted easily. Well worth doing while you have the engine apart.
I also fitted a tappet bucket hold down kit on the exhaust side.
Bill

I would have the valve guides machined to fit modern seals. Don't use the o rings that come in a head gasket kit.

In theory you could fit them only to the inlet side but we have always fitted them to both inlet and exhaust.