SO YOU’VE GOT A SMOKEY PINTO!

Does your Pinto engine smoke everyone out when you start it up, And give that tell tail hint of blue smoke when hot?

You probably need to renew the valve seals, but don’t want to go to the expense and aggravation of removing the cylinder head, taking the Valves out etc. etc.

Well you don’t need to! They can be changed with the cylinder head still in place, and the engine in the car.

(This is where I thank Dave Andrews for telling me how to do it, - THANKS DAVE!)

OK, you ask, how?

First remove the rocker cover and spark plugs, I would also remove the carb from the manifold (it does get in the way when resetting the tappets)

IMPORTANT; Block all the oil ways, manifold, spark plug holes etc. with rags to stop any wayward valve collets from getting where they shouldn’t.

Turn the engine over with a 19mm spanner on the crankshaft nut, until

No 1& 2 cam ‘lobs’ are upwards, (away from the tappet follower) slacken the locknut, and screw the tappet adjuster in as far as you can, until you can lift off the follower.

Now with a torch or hand lamp, turn the engine until you see the piston coming up to just under the spark plug hole, then with a smallish screwdriver, stuff as much rope / cord onto the top of the piston as you can. Carry on turning the engine to bring the piston up to the top, where it will ‘lock’ against the rope.

Place the collar on top of the spring cup, and with the special tool that I’ve had made, lever down to release the valve collets, a magnetic ‘pen’ is handy here to get the collets.

Lift off the valve spring etc. remove the old valve seal with pliers, and fit a new one, press it down hard to make it seat, I found a 7/16AF socket just the job.

Replace the valve spring etc. lever the lot down again, and put the collets back in.

When you’ve done both valves on one cylinder, turn the engine backwards to release the rope / cord, and remove it, make sure the piston has gone down the cylinder a way beyond the spark plug hole, then with a soft drift, give the top of the valve stem a couple of TAPS with a hammer, this will help to reseat the collets.

Replace the tappet followers etc. and adjust the valve clearances. (You can just run back up the adjuster to something like, and then do all the clearances later)

Now do the next cylinder etc.

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