Engine issues: Possible valve seals - recommendations for repair

[Hig116]

Valve Seal recommendations

I'm planning to order the valve seals and gasket kit to do this repair. Are there any recommendations for where to get the valve seals? I don't know if I should use factory or aftermarket. Price is not an issue, as I want the best option. On the other hand, I don't want to throw money away if aftermarket is just as good.

Thanks,
Keith

 

[Hig116]

Update

I started the process of replacing the valve stem seals last week. The first thing I discovered is that the engine is not a 1grfe, but a 2grfe. I guess someone replaced the motor and of course, failed to make that known. Anyway...
****Correction: I just realized that there is a dual VVT version of the 1grfe. So, original engine.*****

Everything was going fairly well, as I am doing this with the engine in the car and attempting to be very cautious with everything I'm doing. To remove the cams, I tied the timing chain up to keep slack out. I used a zip tie to secure it instead of trusting rope and my knot tying skills.

At some point I looked down and the zip tie must have snapped, as the timing chain had fallen into the engine. So now I'm trying to time this motor without removing the timing cover. I think I can use a borescope to see if the yellow chain link is on the right tooth of the crank sprocket. I'll know tonight, as I have a borescope in route. If not, I guess the timing chain cover is coming off, which is NOT what I want to do.

My other issue I'm trying to solve is getting the chain on the gears and the crankshafts in the correct timed position. This is due to the exhaust VVT getting in the way. It has a flat side to allow the chain to be placed on the intake VVT, but I need to rotate the cams to get it timed correctly before putting the chain on, which caused the flat sides of the exhaust VVT to not be in the correct position to install the chain. I know this is possible, as I removed the chain, but it is something I just can't figure out. Hoping a day away from it will help reset my brain and I can figure it out tonight.

More updates coming soon.

Thanks,
Keith

 

[CutthroatSlam]

- YouTube

Here's a link (I inserted a link but it's not showing up. I'm not sure why.) to a cold start this morning, with the outside temp around 43 degrees. This is about half as much smoke as I have seen when the temps were in the 70s.

Also, I was in slow stop and go traffic for about 30 min this morning and noticed smoke when accelerating from a stop. After 10 min on the interstate at 80 mph, I stopped on the exit ramp and revved the motor to 4K rpm and never saw any smoke. Accelerating from a few more red lights and still not smoke.

I'm starting to fear the rings are the issue at this point.

Keith

Given the ambient temp and how quickly that dissipates, I would say that is mostly water vapor.

 

[Hig116]

Problem NOT solved

I completed the valve seal job this weekend and it DID NOT solve the problem. I did, however, create a new one, as I now have a lifter tick. While using a magnet to find a valve spring clip I dropped, I inadvertently grabbed a lifter and pulled it out. I put it back in, but now I'm thinking it lost some oil. That is the only thing I can think of, as everything else went back together correctly I was VERY cautious to make sure.

Here is a video of the continued issue after the seals were replaced. I'm going to start a new thread to discuss what the other issue could be, to decide if I can rebuild or replace the engine.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-lfSVm2UmvQ

Thanks again for everyone's help to this point.
Keith