But doesn't any time else, that is a good indication that your valve stem seals are going (or are) bad, right?

I've got a freshly rebuild 350 (I made SURE that the piston ring gaps were staggered like the instructions said)with very few miles on it, less than 100. The only thing I didn't have done were the heads....you can only stretch money so far, you know?

Anyway just checking to see if my thinking was right. I was thinking that it was either the seals or the rings weren't set yet, although I did follow the instructions stated in a different post for setting them.

yep your right its your valve seals..kinda sucks but its better then your rings,ive been down that road once or twice..just get you the tool that threads into your plug holes and uses compressed air to hold the valves up instead of pulling the heads

More then likely your valve guides are worn, replacing just the seals probably wont help much at all.

For a chep fix you could have the giudes knurled by a machine shop. Certainly not the best way but much cheaper. I have done it twice with my winter beaters.

So, to do the job properly, the heads have to come off (?)....I won't hurt anything if I wait a few months to do this, will I? I need to get my credit card balances back to zero before I start spending money.

Nah, you'll just get a little carbon in the chamber from the slight oil burn, I spose.

You got some valve guide wear and the little o-rings can't handle it. Get a set of Fel-Pro # SS 10058 umbrella valve seals. These will help a ton until you can get the heads reworked.

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If all else fails...Tap lightly with a 5lb hammer!

Those work on Vortec heads too?

Yep

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If all else fails...Tap lightly with a 5lb hammer!