Finally dove into the valve stem seal job on my fintail that I've been meaning to do for a long time. With the carbs/manifolds out of the car, if I drop a valve it's not too much more to pull the head.
Definitely is a little daunting at first having not done stem seals before but after much effort on #1 intake, #1 exhaust went a little easier. That being said I only did one cylinder today as it took a little bit to refine my techniques.

One annoyance is that when you remove the valve cone halves, the springs extend to a point where it's difficult to remove the spring compressor tool. Have to pry down on the spring retainer to get the tool out.

Also, the stem seal on the exhaust valve is odd. It's rubber and it sits up in the top of the sealing ring retainer (#3 in pic) but it doesn't look like it does much to seal the end of the valve guide. Two options to install it: slide it over the valve and then put the sealing ring retainer with springs and spring retainer over the valve and hope it seats into the top of the seal ring retainer. OR, seat the seal into the seal ring retainer all the way in before putting the seal ring/springs/spring retainer assembly over the valve.
I used the latter method as in the former, it looked like the seal ring retainer would just push the stem seal down on the exhaust valve.

One neat thing was using my leak down tester to control air pressure input right at the cylinder.

Not sure that this job will make much of a difference as I see signs that suggest a valve job will be needed sooner rather than later. Oh well. . .

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63 220S W111
76 300D W115
2013 VW JSW TDI M6

previously-
73 280 SEL 4.5
86 300E 5 speed
2010 VW Jetta TDI M6