This thread was saved without dates. "Around Mar 2005" is estimated from neighbouring threads.
i was reading in previous posts that someone had replaced their cam seals and valve seats in a vg30e. i beilve i might do the same, i was wondering how difficult is it to do? how much would i expect to pay if i had someone else do it? also where can you purchase them and for how much? thanks, Jim
You mean the valve stem seals right? Doing the valce seats would be a huge job requiring the removal of the heads and a complete tear down.
You can do the cam seals fairly easily. The best time to do them is when doing the timing belt because it has to come off to replace them.
The valve stem seals shouldn't be that bad. You just have to remove the rocker arm shafts and you will need a valve spring compresser and some way to keep the valve from hitting the top of the piston so as not to damage either the valve or piston. If you have access to an air compresser they make an adapter that goes on the end of a hose to inject pressurised air into the cylinder to keep the valves closed so you can replace the springs and seals. If you are going to go this far you should replace the springs because I gaurentee they are worn and seeing as it will all be apart now is as good a time as any.
yeah, i think the valve steam seals is what i ment. i'm going to be doing a headgasket swap, and changeing my timing belt, tensioner, and water pump while i'm there. where could i find some cheap springs?
Don't use the term "cheap" when it comes to things like valve springs. They're kinda important. You're in luck because they're not expensive anyway. You can get them at Nissan or your local parts store should be able to get them for you.
i wasn't refering to cheap quality (even though i'm not interested in the best quality either), just price. seeing how i've only got $100 invested in the car itself, i'm looking for parts on a tight buget, and its just a beater, so its not like i need comp springs that can hold up to some power, just some springs to get me from point a to point b.Don't use the term "cheap" when it comes to things like valve springs. They're kinda important. You're in luck because they're not expensive anyway. You can get them at Nissan or your local parts store should be able to get them for you.
Shouldn't be too bad replacing them. Especially because you'll already have the heads off. Doing the cam seals should be done when you do the timing belt anyhow.
If you're on a budget, resuse the stockers. They're dual springs, and I haven't seen one lose tension yet unless you totally cook the mess out of em, and that usually cracks the head too... :mrgreen:
I'm willing to bet that the machine shop you take the heads to would change the valve seals and cam seals for pretty cheap.
If you decide to do the seals yourself, try to get a valve spring compressor that clamps on the combustion chamber side of the valve and the spring on the other side. Kinda looks like a huge c-clamp. It's a whole lot easier then messing with that POS that just grips the springs, since you're pulling the heads anyway.