cygnusx1 Posted June 4, 2004 Share Posted June 4, 2004 Does anyone have a source for Viton stem seals for an 83 280ZX Turbo (P90A head) motor. If not Viton any other suggestions? Thanks, Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speeder Posted June 5, 2004 Share Posted June 5, 2004 Fel Pro SS72686 - originally for a Ford Capri but are an upgrade for the L-heads. They're viton, fit perfectly, and have a lower profile in case you're installing a bigger cam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cygnusx1 Posted June 5, 2004 Author Share Posted June 5, 2004 Thanks very much! Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted June 5, 2004 Share Posted June 5, 2004 A word of warning, though it's a bit indecisive. I've used those valve seals that speeder lists on a car with a fresh rebuild, and it seems to still have some top end oil issues, as it's smoking on startup still. This was after a complete head rework including new guides, so I suspect the problem is the valve seals at this point. It's fairly speculative, but a word of warning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speeder Posted June 5, 2004 Share Posted June 5, 2004 I can add to this in about a week, as my new engine (with these seals) is being installed next weekend. Sure hope I'm not putting out bad dope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted June 5, 2004 Share Posted June 5, 2004 I'm interested to hear your results as well Speeder. All indications were that these seals would work. I based that on how they measured up in my hand rather than 'only' your word, as I've recieved some bad advice before on the internet. In this case it's more that I can't imagine what else it could be causing this smoke than any real feeling that the part is not working correctly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cygnusx1 Posted June 6, 2004 Author Share Posted June 6, 2004 I am not in a rush so I will wait to see where this thread goes. Keep us posted. When I get working on the seals I will post my experience as well. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speeder Posted June 13, 2004 Share Posted June 13, 2004 The new engine with these capri (I hope that's not spelled "crappy") seals was started for the first time today - I'll be able to update tis topic in the next few days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cygnusx1 Posted June 13, 2004 Author Share Posted June 13, 2004 Congrats on the startup and good luck. Keep us posted. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted June 13, 2004 Share Posted June 13, 2004 Cool Rick... I'm eagerly waiting to hear how they work for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speeder Posted June 15, 2004 Share Posted June 15, 2004 My new engine has about 300 miles on it, and smokes a lot still. I'm hoping it's just rings breaking in, as I've had Total Seal rings like these before (steel gapless tops, standard seconds) that took a long time to wear in. 4 out of the 6 plugs are rather oily, and the smoke can be seen when you rev the engine, then let off and pull manifold vacuum. It's not coming from the turbo compressor seals.... Any diagnostic experts here that can suggest how to identify oil sources? I'll continue to put miles on the engine and report back in. We will get more data on these seals as I have a friend nearby that just did two z heads with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speeder Posted June 26, 2004 Share Posted June 26, 2004 Well, still no definitive word on whether my oil consumption is seals or rings... My car never smokes on startup, but does have rather oily intake valve tops (I had to pull my intake to work another problem, and took a look)- Not gross amounts of oil, but enough to keep suspicions alive. One weird symptom - It seems to smoke worse when the engine is really hot (not overheated) , like after it's been running for a while on a hot day with A/C on. I did do a compression test, and the results, 150psi +, - 5psi seem to exhonerate the rings. When the car gets back together I'll continue to put miles on it and see if the smoking/oil consumption decreases. If no improvement is seen after a few hundred more miles, I will swap in the Nissan "A" series seals (PITA)and report back. The plugs are starting to look better, I think - so maybe time will tell. I will make another post in the troubleshooting section and see if there are any diagnostic experts who can help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xander Posted June 26, 2004 Share Posted June 26, 2004 hi, I have been following this thread closely because I also have an oil consumption problem. When I am driving on the highway and I release the throttle it start blowing blueish smoke. So I though valvestem seals. I replaced the seals with the above mentioned ford seals and it made no difference whatsoever. So I am back to square one. My engine is a N42 block with a P90 head. The turbo is not on there yet because I wanted to get rid of this oil consumption first. I also noticed that my L26 dipstick is shorter than my L28 dipstick. Could it be that I overfilled the engine and it smokes because of that. I have also check my compression and all 6 cylinders are close to 145 PSI. This seems like a good value. So I guess my next step is to do a wet compression test? oil consuption sux. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted June 26, 2004 Share Posted June 26, 2004 I dunno, the 3.1L we just did with these seals has 7.1 miles on it so far and doesn't seem to be smoking at all... Stay tuned. On a side note, my own rebuild with ~7000miles on it started with some top end smoking symptoms corresponding with what you would expect for poor valve seals... though this is with nissan valve seals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug71zt Posted June 27, 2004 Share Posted June 27, 2004 Rick - To go a little off-topic here - I saw that you are running Ferrea stainless valves in your new engine. Are they the correct length for the P-90 head, and use standard locks and retainers? Are they a recent production piece for Ferrea? Did you go oversize on your intakes or exhaust? I am reworking a P-90 right now with a more aggressive ISKY cam and have been looking around for Stainless valves. Rebello Racing said that there were no high quality valves available for the P-90 except for custom pieces - but that was a couple months ago. This is great news for me.. Any pricing info? Doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speeder Posted June 27, 2004 Share Posted June 27, 2004 Doug, The Ferrea catalog lists stainless valves in the P90 Length - but they don't usually stock them. Mine had to be made to order, and I waited about 3 weeks for them. They were about 25.00 apiece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted June 28, 2004 Share Posted June 28, 2004 180 miles on the 3.1L, no smoke. Car runs awesome and has broken the tranny and diff mount so far with the rev limiter set to 5000rpm for break in. It isn't being abused either... (no speed shifts, no burnouts, no brakestands, no nothing) I think that sways me to saying these valve seals work, and other smoking problems are purely coincidental. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cygnusx1 Posted July 18, 2004 Author Share Posted July 18, 2004 So, Drax, How is the beast running? Are the Viton seals doing their job? I finally got the EFI bugs out of my car and I am now ready to start conquering the valve seals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speeder Posted July 18, 2004 Share Posted July 18, 2004 My engine smoking problems have been pretty conclusively isolated to ring- related issues. I have had to pull the engine and have the cylinders re- honed with the proper tooling for my Total Seal Rings We still have this and two other engines (also not installed yet) equipped with the Ford seals, and I will report as soon as data is available. All indications are that the Ford seals are good - It's unfortunate that my machine shop mishap has clouded the testing... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted July 18, 2004 Share Posted July 18, 2004 Yeah the seals are totally fine. I am not sure what is up with the first engine that we used them on... it still acts like it has some top end oil leaking, but I don't know why. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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