upper 60k ...........underway .....VSS question

[windsormw]

hello good people of shoforum

I haven't posted here in a very long time . My Sho has been off the road lately . I had scored a 93 grand am GT ( 160000kms ) for $900 , thats what been keeping me mobile .

I recently got some much needed time off ( god bless union trades ) and have had the parts laying around so i figured ....Y not

I just got intake & timming cover off and and jumping in balls deep . I scored this cd manual off ebay for 5-10 bucks & it has proven to be very useful in prior SHO repairs .

I was thinkin of documenting Pics of the whole job for the SHO comm. , i know that mostly all of the senior members know this procedure inside & out . But for the guys ( & gals ) that arew just comming across this thread & could use a heads up . ...............I will post pics if requested

Q: In everybodies mind , what is cheap/easier ( for changing VSS ) ? Renting the rotumda valve spring compressor setup ................or just taking heads off & using a standard valve spring commpressor & buying a new head gasket ?

 

[windsormw]

come on fellas


nothing .............really ?

 

[ohfosho]

the VSS(is in the passeger side rear/firewall end of the tranny), it causes bad shifting in ATX SHO's, and causes no VAPS (variable assist power steering), and few other small things in both ATX and MTX SHO's.

the valve lash adjustment can be done without renting the tools IIRC, but it makes life easier if you have the tools. some have used magnets to pull the valve shim out, others and the kit use a pick tool i think.

visit the link in my sig for lots of info regarding any and all repairs for your SHO

 

[windsormw]

VSS= valve stem seals ............the lash will be considered after i change out VSS , but that goofy rotumda linkage setup to compress the springs is what i am consered about .

If i pull the head , is it just as easy to get the springs out with one of those ( C - clamp lookin ) standard valve spring commpressors ? Or perhaps shim the table( underthe valve ) that i am workin on ?

thanks for the input , please give me more ...........I am going to start on the cams right now ...........I will check the forum in a bit

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

Actually, VSS = Vehicle speed sensor.

No wonder I had no idea what your first post was about.



And Id say ti is much easier to lave the heads on the intake.

Id never consider removing them just to do the valve stem seals.

Also, there is already a complete step-by-step with photos and illustrations here:
http://www.shophoenixproject.com/stemseals/stemseals.htm

 

[shomesomesho]

Valve stem seals.. what fun..

There's actually a very useful $30 tool, the Lisle 36200 - Valve Keeper Remover & Installer, that obviates the need for a valve spring compressor. It also makes installing those PITA valve stem keepers a real cinch. What used to be a 4 hour job now takes just 2.

I got one from HERE.

 

[windsormw]

got some shim measurements ..........pretty depressing

all my intake and a handful of exhaust failed to qualify .

That tool u speak of .........I have it ordered @ my local parts dealer .

Thanks again , we will see how well this tool works early tommorow morning

 

[marvsho17]

Well I'll be watching. My 91 really needs new valve stem seals.:banghd:

 

[shomesomesho]

Good luck. The write up was very helpful.

Just make sure you don't drop any valves into the chamber (like I did my first time around).. or you'll be in a whirling world of hurt..

One thing that helps is if you rotate the crankshaft so the piston is at the top of its cycle, the piston will prevent the valve from dropping all the way out. You can see where the piston is at by shining a light in the spark plug hole (remove the spark plugs first).

 

[ohfosho]

VSS= valve stem seals ............

lol oops, my bad! well you should be a lil more explanitory... i was wondering why you would want to pull the head(s) to do a vehicle speed sensor...

usually the valve stem seals should really only be done at the time of a complete rebuild of the head(s), normally they dont wear much more than the rest of the involved parts, so they are not regularly an issue...but SHO's are getting up in mileage here so yeah.

 

[windsormw]

today was somewhat productive ( @ least i got that tool )

I spent the most part of last night reseaching the job I am going to be doing . My original intention was to flip the worn side of the shim to get desired clearence ..............that was until i read this thread & replie from the sho-guru himself .
http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=58185&highlight=flip+shims

That was perfect , I would have been wild , come to find out that the shims are harder than the cam ( balls deep in the job & no shims to complete the job ) .

I never done this job to the sho ( thus far ) , but that is the kinda info i needed . I am sure that a simple scratch test will confirm what G-man is talking about .

It gets better ...........I called up the movie star himself ( josh ) & told him the situation . Within an hour or 2 , he called me back and arranged for the shims to be @ my door step tommorow .( shonutperformance.com )

Lets not for get the hose & fitting that has to go into the spark plug hole ......I live in the sticks & could only find 1 .........crook wanted $20 for it . so made 1 , took me bout an hour ..........

lastly , a compressor .......There was this POS for sale ( that was what i was originally going to buy ) for $60 and just looking @ it I could tell it wasen't gonna last . Then i seen the other outfit for $300 ......that seemed like a better deal all together , so that & some tools ( cause a guy can't have enough tools ) I was out $400 .

Not an easy thing to expalin to the ol'lady ( her idea was I go get this POS comp. for ^40 & return home ) but I ain't no chump .......before i got home i stopped & picked up some vodka & dirty lingerie .

Yes sir ............thats what i call greasing the wheels . To u youngsters reading this .........present her with the booze & lingerie before u go racing to the garage to play with ur toys

 

[marvsho17]

Not an easy thing to expalin to the ol'lady ( her idea was I go get this POS comp. for ^40 & return home ) but I ain't no chump .......before i got home i stopped & picked up some vodka & dirty lingerie .

Yes sir ............thats what i call greasing the wheels . To u youngsters reading this .........present her with the booze & lingerie before u go racing to the garage to play with ur toys

Adds to the list of supplies.

 

[windsormw]

got the RHS done & am jumping into the other side in the morning .....will post pics later

 

[windsormw]

love to chat, but pics pretty much sum it up for a few hours today ....gotta go up stairs & take care off mama

i will post more pics tommorow

 

[windsormw]