I have a few questions for you guys that have already, "Been there and done that".
History:
My vavle cover gasket began to leak a bit, tighening the bolts only helped for a little while. No biggie, last night I removed the valve covers.

I noticed at the corners of the head (where the oil drains back into the engine) was some type of plastic debris. After inspection, I realized that it was several pieces of an oil stem seal.

My Questions:
1 - My Engine doesn't smoke - Should I replace the valve stem seals now that I know at least one is missing?

2 - I bought new valve stem seals - Is it safe to say that the black seals are the exhaust side and the white are the Intake side?

3 - Should Olds 455 engines use Positive valve seals or Umbrella style seals?

4 - These new Umbrella type stem seals appear to just hang on the valve stem themselves. They don't snap onto the head or anything. - How do they wipe or meter the oil on the stem if they just float with the stem?

 

This is common. The factory umbrella style seals get hard and crack. You can install new ones by using a fitting that screws in the spark plug hole and uses compressed air to hold the valves shut. This lets you remove the valve springs and replace the seals with the heads on the car. The stock seals only slide onto the valve stems. Aftermarket teflon seals fit onto the boss on the head, but this requires machining the boss for proper seal fitment.

 

You can also use nylon rope instead of compressed air to hold the valves against the head while removing the retainers and springs. I've done this numerous times and it works like a charm. If you use the search engine there was another member I spoke to about this not long ago.

 

I don't have a spark plug hole adapter. I'll give the nylon rope method a try. You guys are great. Thanks a lot. Eric

 

Viteon seals are a product that doesn't get brittle over time and they are fairly inexpensive. $15.00 set They are an umbrella seal that requies no machining A good bang for your buck

 

I have purchased Perfect Circle seals that are neoprene and do not require machining of heads. I got these from NAPA and they were expensive. I have also purchased them from PAW. Very similar to the teflon ones but no machining. seem to work great.

 

any part # on these seals?

 

Try this no part number on the Napa ones and PAW long gone.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/273938424007

 

Umbrella seals work by deflecting oil away from the valve stem but still allowing oil mist to reach the valve stem for proper lubrication. Short seals on the exhaust as the exhaust needs more lubrication than the intake due to higher heat. Factory Olds valve guides are knurled to help retain some oil for valve stem lubrication and the factory valve stems are not hard chromed so will wear faster especially if not being properly lubricated.