so I'm working on getting my Mexican 302 back together, and attempting to change the valve seals, I got intake valves no problem, but the exhaust valves are giving me hell. It seems as though they have another piece that's holding onto the valve itself, so when I tap it with a hammer and then use the spring compressor the valve is still moving with the spring.

Is there an easy way to get the exhaust valves off or should I even bother at this point?

 

Are the heads off the block? Try a giving it a short wack on the retainer with a socket and hammer that is larger than the keepers. That usually loosens them up. That is if I am following you correctly.

 

motor is completely disassembled, the heads are on my rolling table, is the retainer on the exhaust valve 2 pieces?

 

I have forgotten which, but one side could be two pieces and the keepers. The keepers get stuck and taping the retainer down with a socket will loosen them or since the heads are off the block you could give the compressor a tap and free them up. Unless I am totally wrong they all have keepers and yours are just stuck.

 

there's spring compressors which just press the valve (springs) and that's ok if you have the engine assembled and a rope in the bore so the valve cvan't phisically come down. Other compressors hold the valve on the bottom of the head (they work like a big c-clamp). If you don't have that, then I'd try
a) what scootchu says (big socket on the retainer and one little whack. make sure you don't bottom out with the valve
b) if that doesn't help try mounting a c-clamp to the head so that the valve cannot move. only a tini tap with the socket and then try with the compressor again

 

Got the intake valve spring off with the socket whacking, when the intake valve came off i found this style valve seal:



these are the seals that came with my gasket kit:


Am I missing something here?

Is it worth the trouble to change all the valve seals?

 

If you're going through all this I'd install a good set of Viton seals.

 

do i have the wrong intake seals?

 

This is what I had in mind, but I'm new to fords.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Edelbrock/350/9726/10002/-1

 

The new ones are old school style and don't work too well. The top pics, the ones you already had in there are positive seals...

So yes, get the good positive Viton seals.