question on plastic pieces inside my valve covers

[troy.70R/T]

I took the valve covers off the 383 that I bought for my charger and there are small plastic pieces laying on top of the heads. would these be pieces of the valve seals? They do look round from what is left of them.

[Cooter]

Or pieces of old PCV valves/grommets

[troy.70R/T]

I thought of that but I pulled valve covers off both motors and they both had them on both sides.

[Cooter]

Don't mean someone didn't break em before and left the pieces down in the engine.

[tan top]

   was just going to say pcv valve grommet ,  have you got picture of said pieces ?

[John_Kunkel]

More likely they are what's left of the valve stem seals, that nice soft rubber gets hard as plastic with age and crumbles.

[troy.70R/T]

Of course not I threw them away.  . They did kind of look like pieces of valve stem seals but they were all to small to tell. I guess I will pull the heads and put new valve stem seals in. This pull the motor and drop it in the Charger project seems to be turning into a bigger project.

[troy.70R/T]

I see my local parts store rents the tool. I have never changed the seals before. Do I need any special tools other that the spring compressor? Any tips?

[A383Wing]

here are a few tips:

make sure piston is at TDC before pulling keepers off springs, if valve drops into cylinder, yer gonna have to pull the head off. Use a rope in the cylinder or compressor air to keep valve up.

[charge69]

Very good advice, A383Wing!!  Taking the time to align the piston at TDC is pretty easy and will prevent the dreaded "valve-drop" and OH S##T moment!

[troy.70R/T]

That is a good Idea. But I think since I am this far into it I might as well take the heads off and see what the cylinder walls look like and see how much of a ridge there is. No sense going this far and having an engine with a scratched cylinder wall.

[RallyeMike]

Better stop at the valve covers or I sense a full rebuild coming on 

[A383Wing]

[troy.70R/T]

Ha ha I was thinking the same thing. But it is a 383 if I was going to do a rebuild it would be a 440. I already feel bad enough about putting a 383 in an R/T.

[fy469rtse]

Going that far, do away with the stock umbrella seals, get the cutter self aligns through valve guides, so you install positive nylon seals , I think comps has it so you can do it yourself

[troy.70R/T]

Can you go into a little more detail or post a link! Thanks