Help! valve stem oil seals

[mvm737]

hello,

4 years ago I bought a 79 Vette and I have to change the valve stem oil seals;I'd like to order those,but as I'm living in this rainy Belgium(Europe),it's not easy to find the correct matching part nrs.

The block nr:GM 3970014 (and T19 CONV2)
The head casting nr:14011034 and also o/t left head K 4 1,and on the right head L 7 4.(This must be the date Oct 4 and Nov 7 of some year)
Vin code is 1Z 87 89 S400402
Im a bit desperate,I tried almost everything to find out,but I can't solve this problem ;help
Regards and thks in advance.

 

[6880 Mike]

Try the Corvettes parts section on ebay. You can also install Ford smallblock umbrella seals in addition to the stock Chevrolet seals for a little addition sealing.

 

[JohnZ]

Those are over-the-counter service replacement heads, with 64cc chambers and angled plugs - they're good heads. Chevy valves use square-section O-ring seals in the bottom groove of the valves - you have to compress the retainers to BELOW the groove, replace the seal, then let the retainer come back up to surround the seal. If you remove the retainer, change the seal, then re-install the retainer and keepers, you'll destroy the seals. Or, umbrella seals will work fine too. The Perfect-Circle-type seals that go on the top of the valve guide require machining of the heads.

 

[mvm737]

thanks for that fast and precise answer,I'll try the umbrella seals.No way to find these things in Belgium of course,I check with Rockauto........