Rep Power: 0

Any CVCC experts… can you tell me if it’s necessary to remove the auxiliary combustion chambers from the head when renewing seals on the auxiliary valves?

I have a 1975 civic (1.5l ED1 engine) that’s burning oil, I believe past either the O rings or seals on the auxiliary valves. Trying to keep the old girl running. I have the auxiliary valve assemblies themselves out, exposing the O rings, and I can take them apart to get at the valve seals. But the auxiliary combustion chambers are stuck in place in the head, and there are apparently two copper gaskets / crush washers above and below that are supposed to be replaced according to the documentation I have. I can see the top copper gaskets, but they’re also stuck in place. The bottom gaskets are below the stuck chambers. The documentation warns of vacuum or combustion leaks if these gaskets aren’t renewed, or if the combustion chambers aren’t fully square when put back in place.

The whole head is off as I’ll be replacing the intake valve seals as well, and I’ve read about “driving the combustion chambers out from the bottom”… but it’s not a straight shot to get a punch on the chambers from below, and I’m worried about making things worse by bending or scratching something.

Would love to hear someone with experience tell me I can just ignore it and put the renewed valve assemblies back in. Or am I asking for trouble and those gaskets need to come out? If so, any advice on how?

 
Rep Power: 221

Never worked on one, but considering they're 50 years old probably not a bad idea to replace them.
my dad had a 76 but he only did tune up type stuff to it