Changing valve guide oil seals

[joseG]

Hi fellow E Type owner,

My car is creating a huge cloud of smoke after going downhill without accelerating and my reading seems to all come to the same conclusion : I need to change my valve guide oil seals.

I have a question if I may:

Can I actually do this while letting the head on the block ?? Or I am oblige to get the head off?

XK engine on a Serie 2 2+2 69

Thanks in advance for you answers

JOSE

[Jag-Nut]

Jose, yes, it is easy to do with the head on the engine. Basically, remove the cam covers, detach the timing chain, lift off cams, release valve keepers, replace seals (intake side only). Reassembly is the reverse. Of course, this is way simplified. You might as well measure and adjust the valve lash while you are at it.

[christopher storey]

Hmmm ! I don't believe your engine has any valve seals unless it has been modified. I thought they appeared with the S3 XJ6

[joseG]

Thanks bill,

This is what I call a detailed answer ! Thank you very much.

Christopher's answer confused me a bit -) : so I've went to the SNG web site and it seems right ie I cannot order seals when I select 2+2 S2 and I go to valve assembly ?

IF there's no seal to accuse, how can I solve my problem of oil getting sucked in when I go downhill ??

JOSE

[malcolm]

I'm very confused. I have a 1969 S2 2+2. The head was rebuilt by Rob Beere and had Seals fitted.

[christopher storey]

Malcolm : yes indeed, it is possible to modify the head to take seals, but standard E types never had seals fitted. The guides wear, and with the head off it is not a big job to fit new guides and re-cut the seats where needed

[mgcjag]

Hi.....Not all E types had valve stem seals....there are also two types of seal one of which needs the valve giude machining .......ideally if you have oil leaks then the valve guides should be replaced and new seals fitted....anyway after 50 years who knows what you actually have fitted....so only way to investigate is a head strip........im sure someone can give more details....Steve

[joseG]

Thanks to all,

All the answers make perfect sense actually and it seems that keeping the head on as I was hoping for is eventually not the best idea.

I will have to investigate to find out what I do have on this car.

That's something more on my list for this winter -)

JOSE

[abowie]

Thanks to all,

All the answers make perfect sense actually and it seems that keeping the head on as I was hoping for is eventually not the best idea.

I will have to investigate to find out what I do have on this car.

That's something more on my list for this winter -)

JOSE

It's worth taking off a cam cover and looking to see if someone has retrofitted your car with seals. This is a pretty common occurrence if your engine has ever been rebuilt.

[chrisfell]

Seals or no seals, clouds of blue smoke on the overrun indicates worn valve guides. Time for a head rebuild. Or dip the clutch when going downhill!