I am told it can be done. If your courage hold.
OLDER THREADS:
There are several older threads discussing this--these are the most useful:
This one is belanger33 asking for whether the valve stem seals can be replaced with the head on. Some advice is given regarding if the valve guides are worn, they will need to be replaced. tubasteve said that his shop does this "all the time" and that in 2012 they charged roughly $450 for 16 valves including valve adjustment--I'd love to get in the time machine and go back and do that. l0ch0w then flexed, saying he only needed 20 minutes to pull the valve cover and pop off the two valves but that's not the whole job and he did it with the motor out of the car: https://www.alltrac.net/index.php?threads/valve-stem-seals-to-be-replaced.44156/
This one has some old schoolers telling b00staholic how to get the cams and timing belt off--this will be of use tearing down the valvetrain to get to the valve springs: https://www.alltrac.net/index.php?threads/replacing-cam-seals-with-engine-in-the-car.20331/
This one is l0ch0w discussing how if you want valves lapped, new springs, and new valve seals, consider taking it to a local motorcycle shop, because the upper is very similar to a Yamaha motorcycle--a fascinating possibility IF you have taken the head off: https://www.alltrac.net/index.php?threads/needing-head-work.26911/
VIDEOS AND GUIDES:
What is a valve stem seal? This video is an overview of what a valve stem seal is, how it functions, how they fail, why you might want to replace them, and a comparison of GSC Power-Division, Supertech, and Ferrea valve stem seals--the Ferreas are not made for the 3S-GTE so ignore that part:
This video is the replacement process done on a Mazda. If you can bear the music, it is useful because the Mazda motor he is working on is similar enough to the 3S-GTE and shows in general terms the whole assembly, replacement, and disassembly process and some additional information:
This video is the process done on a Gen3 3S-GTE--however, it does NOT include the teardown procedure necessary to get to the valve springs and you get what you pay for with the lighting and camera work. I'm just appreciative that this shows it being done:
This is the writeup done on the process explained in the Mazda video:
https://www.thecarpassionchannel.com/valve-seals
TOOLS:
Repeatedly, a special valve seal plier is mentioned which is still available as of late September 2024 for $23.50
https://www.toyotool.com/index.html
The Neiko Valve Spring Compressor kit mentioned in the first video is not available from Amazon.com as of September 2024. The Laser 5258 valve spring compressor kit mentioned in the second video is from Amazon.UK and eBay and is costly to obtain and required grinding to allow clearance to the corner valves. Orion Motor Tech offers a kit that appears quite similar to the Neiko kit and includes a pair of valve seal pliers and a magnetic collet/keeper remover for $58.99 as of September 2024--I do not know if this one will require modification to allow clearance to the valves in the corners of the head:
https://www.amazon.com/Orion-Motor-...88-9335-0593328a9168&pd_rd_i=B09QJZ95L2&psc=1
One of the comments in the Mazda video recommends this valve keeper remover and installer kit:
https://www.amazon.com/Lisle-36050-...+and+installer+kit,automotive,181&sr=1-1&th=1
But other comments say just use a screwdriver dabbed in grease to maneuver the valve collets/keepers into place.
PARTS:
OEM valve stem seals? Who you gonna trust to deliver these and if they are new old stock they are going to have a very light emphasis on "new" and a very heavy emphasis on "old."
GSC Power-Division Viton composition valve stem seals are available from a variety of places for a variety of prices:
https://www.jmautosports.com/produc...valve-stem-seals-for-the-toyota-3sgte-gsc1031
https://primemr2.com/products/valve-stem-seals-1
Supertech also offers 3S-GTE valve seals but their reputation has a few dings--do the research:
A set of 8 Exhaust Valve Seals: https://www.supertechperformance.com/toyota-3sgte/p59933-valve-stem-seals
A set of 8 Intake Valve Seals: https://www.supertechperformance.com/toyota-3sgte/p60012-valve-stem-seals
If camshaft seal replacement is desired--you'll have access to the camshafts during this process--PrimeMR2 has them:
https://primemr2.com/products/camshaft-seals-gen2-3?variant=32893651943563
I am uncertain whether these can be replaced with the head on, but GSC Power-Division manganese bronze valve guides are available from PrimeMR2--both intake and exhaust:
https://primemr2.com/products/gsc-manganese-bronze-intake-valve-guide-3sgte
https://primemr2.com/products/gsc-manganese-bronze-exhaust-valve-guide-3sgte?variant=32895125094539
Or you can get these Manganese Silicon Aluminum units from Brian Crower--both intake and exhaust:
https://store.briancrower.com/collections/3sgte/products/bc3936?variant=1609999043
https://store.briancrower.com/collections/3sgte/products/bc3937?variant=1609999107
If money is not an issue and you have a Gen2 you could I suppose replace the valve springs with some spiff GSC Power-Division units from PrimeMR2:
https://primemr2.com/products/valve-springs-w-titanium-retainers-gsc-3sgte
Or you could go to Brian Crower and really dive deep into the imaginary gains for huge cost--but these are for if you are building a big motor.
If you can source new (or better condition than you have) valve lifters, then these could be replaced during the process.
Intake valves will not be able to be replaced during this process--to get them out, you have to have the head off because, as makes perfect sense, the valve is larger than the hole and so it cannot come out through the top.
More to follow...
OLDER THREADS:
There are several older threads discussing this--these are the most useful:
This one is belanger33 asking for whether the valve stem seals can be replaced with the head on. Some advice is given regarding if the valve guides are worn, they will need to be replaced. tubasteve said that his shop does this "all the time" and that in 2012 they charged roughly $450 for 16 valves including valve adjustment--I'd love to get in the time machine and go back and do that. l0ch0w then flexed, saying he only needed 20 minutes to pull the valve cover and pop off the two valves but that's not the whole job and he did it with the motor out of the car: https://www.alltrac.net/index.php?threads/valve-stem-seals-to-be-replaced.44156/
This one has some old schoolers telling b00staholic how to get the cams and timing belt off--this will be of use tearing down the valvetrain to get to the valve springs: https://www.alltrac.net/index.php?threads/replacing-cam-seals-with-engine-in-the-car.20331/
This one is l0ch0w discussing how if you want valves lapped, new springs, and new valve seals, consider taking it to a local motorcycle shop, because the upper is very similar to a Yamaha motorcycle--a fascinating possibility IF you have taken the head off: https://www.alltrac.net/index.php?threads/needing-head-work.26911/
VIDEOS AND GUIDES:
What is a valve stem seal? This video is an overview of what a valve stem seal is, how it functions, how they fail, why you might want to replace them, and a comparison of GSC Power-Division, Supertech, and Ferrea valve stem seals--the Ferreas are not made for the 3S-GTE so ignore that part:
This video is the replacement process done on a Mazda. If you can bear the music, it is useful because the Mazda motor he is working on is similar enough to the 3S-GTE and shows in general terms the whole assembly, replacement, and disassembly process and some additional information:
This video is the process done on a Gen3 3S-GTE--however, it does NOT include the teardown procedure necessary to get to the valve springs and you get what you pay for with the lighting and camera work. I'm just appreciative that this shows it being done:
This is the writeup done on the process explained in the Mazda video:
https://www.thecarpassionchannel.com/valve-seals
TOOLS:
Repeatedly, a special valve seal plier is mentioned which is still available as of late September 2024 for $23.50
https://www.toyotool.com/index.html
The Neiko Valve Spring Compressor kit mentioned in the first video is not available from Amazon.com as of September 2024. The Laser 5258 valve spring compressor kit mentioned in the second video is from Amazon.UK and eBay and is costly to obtain and required grinding to allow clearance to the corner valves. Orion Motor Tech offers a kit that appears quite similar to the Neiko kit and includes a pair of valve seal pliers and a magnetic collet/keeper remover for $58.99 as of September 2024--I do not know if this one will require modification to allow clearance to the valves in the corners of the head:
https://www.amazon.com/Orion-Motor-...88-9335-0593328a9168&pd_rd_i=B09QJZ95L2&psc=1
One of the comments in the Mazda video recommends this valve keeper remover and installer kit:
https://www.amazon.com/Lisle-36050-...+and+installer+kit,automotive,181&sr=1-1&th=1
But other comments say just use a screwdriver dabbed in grease to maneuver the valve collets/keepers into place.
PARTS:
OEM valve stem seals? Who you gonna trust to deliver these and if they are new old stock they are going to have a very light emphasis on "new" and a very heavy emphasis on "old."
GSC Power-Division Viton composition valve stem seals are available from a variety of places for a variety of prices:
https://www.jmautosports.com/produc...valve-stem-seals-for-the-toyota-3sgte-gsc1031
https://primemr2.com/products/valve-stem-seals-1
Supertech also offers 3S-GTE valve seals but their reputation has a few dings--do the research:
A set of 8 Exhaust Valve Seals: https://www.supertechperformance.com/toyota-3sgte/p59933-valve-stem-seals
A set of 8 Intake Valve Seals: https://www.supertechperformance.com/toyota-3sgte/p60012-valve-stem-seals
If camshaft seal replacement is desired--you'll have access to the camshafts during this process--PrimeMR2 has them:
https://primemr2.com/products/camshaft-seals-gen2-3?variant=32893651943563
I am uncertain whether these can be replaced with the head on, but GSC Power-Division manganese bronze valve guides are available from PrimeMR2--both intake and exhaust:
https://primemr2.com/products/gsc-manganese-bronze-intake-valve-guide-3sgte
https://primemr2.com/products/gsc-manganese-bronze-exhaust-valve-guide-3sgte?variant=32895125094539
Or you can get these Manganese Silicon Aluminum units from Brian Crower--both intake and exhaust:
https://store.briancrower.com/collections/3sgte/products/bc3936?variant=1609999043
https://store.briancrower.com/collections/3sgte/products/bc3937?variant=1609999107
If money is not an issue and you have a Gen2 you could I suppose replace the valve springs with some spiff GSC Power-Division units from PrimeMR2:
https://primemr2.com/products/valve-springs-w-titanium-retainers-gsc-3sgte
Or you could go to Brian Crower and really dive deep into the imaginary gains for huge cost--but these are for if you are building a big motor.
If you can source new (or better condition than you have) valve lifters, then these could be replaced during the process.
Intake valves will not be able to be replaced during this process--to get them out, you have to have the head off because, as makes perfect sense, the valve is larger than the hole and so it cannot come out through the top.
More to follow...
Last edited:
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