<VV> Snap Ring and Unseated Rings

[Jeffrey B. Aronson]

Thanks to Matt, Jerry, Daniel and Ed for your recommendations and 
suggestions.

I did the work on the car at the island repair garage where the 
mechanic, a friend, had an open bay for a couple of hours. He fashioned 
a copper pipe so we could try and force the cam unit further down the 
column to get at the snap ring. We also tried to pull up the column with 
a nut and washers, but no luck. There was no additional movement. He did 
not have the tool that was recommended, but knew of it. I wondered out 
loud how they assembled the thing at the factory; maybe it was assembled 
before the column was installed?

When I first bought the car it was clear from noise and smoke that the 
rings were not seating properly. A couple of cans of old additives, 
promising to seat rings, did the trick of ending the vast smoking. Maybe 
now it's time for another dose to see if it can improve the sealing.

The PCV system on this car is just the piping running into the air 
cleaner - I'll shoot some more carb cleaner down there to be certain 
that it's open. Matt suggested checking the dipstick tube for a hole by 
dropping the oil pan. I'll do that when I change the oil next.

I have a trip on the mainland this weekend that will allow for a longer, 
higher speed run. I'll bring shop towels and extra oil :)

Thanks for all your help,

Jeff