No valve stem seals CONFUSED!!

Hey guys, I have '71 firebird down in australia with poncho 350, recently the bird started blowing a small amount of smoke when left ideling for a couple of minutes, smoke was sort of blue but a little white if that makes sense, as soon as throttle was applied smoke when away, straight away i thought valve stem seals so i bought some seals and got stuck into it, at the same time i thought a would install a mild cam and lifter set, upon removal of timing cover i found some good surprises, a double row timing chain and when removing the cam it is already a performance cam (the one i was installing was still larger), cam install went fine,

Now for the valve stem seals, removed the rocker cover , then the rockers, NO SEALS
intake or exhaust at all

Is it possible the there maybe some sort of after market self sealing vales installed? is there such a thing?

Once i put everything back together, started her up, no smoke! makes me think intake manifold gasket leak, possibly burning coolant


Any one have any insite into the situation?    

This may be a dumb question but you know you have to remove the valve springs to replace the seals right?
If it is not smoking now them it was most likely sucking coolant into the intake ports.  
professional hi-performance engine builder

Horsepower sells engines and torque wins races

yes of course, sorry didn't put that in my description, it just valve and valve guide, no caps/seals nothing, i would of thought with out the seals it would just leak oil into the head, is there any chance they may be sealed from the inside of the head, as in the chamber side of the valve guides?

by the way car runs fine no valve train noise/smoke or anything  

The only thing used was valve guide seals some had o-rings only and some had positive on intake only and o-ring seals on all valve stems how many miles does the engine have it is possible that they dried out and crumbled into pieces or if it has been rebuilt then they did not put valve seals on it which is not good.  
professional hi-performance engine builder

Horsepower sells engines and torque wins races

I did notice o rings on the valve stem, but i always thought you had o rings and valve stem seals, heads were recod 30,000 kms ago acording to previous owner, they are #94 heads, wouldn't there be some sort of smoke issue if seals have cracked up and been destroyed, or never replaced in the first place,

Also plugs are not fouling, everything indicates all is well and they are sealing some how,

All work shop manuals i have show diagrams of the valve stem seals but also show valve stem o ring, says it needs both

Thanks for chatting with me on this, sick of talking local "experts" and having them say "Well pontiac v8s are they same as chevys v8s so...."  

Not all pontiac heads have positive seals some just have the o-ring style valve seals because the guide bosses were not machine on some pontiac heads for the positive seals.
Yes damaged or dried out seals will cause smoke usually on start up seals should be nice and soft.
Any one that says pontiac V8's are like chevy V8's stay away from them because they obviously do not know anything about pontiac engines.  
professional hi-performance engine builder

Horsepower sells engines and torque wins races

thanks mate is good to know, i must just have the o ring seals,

You have no idea what is like tring to deal with anyone in australia when it comes to ponchos, if its not chev/ford/chysler nobody has a clue, same with trying to find parts, i have order everything from the USA, with the aussie dollar stuffed at the moment is gets very costly

thanks for your help  

Your welcome friend.
Anything else just ask.  
professional hi-performance engine builder

Horsepower sells engines and torque wins races

We use chevy's as starter motors for our Pontiacs  

Most Chevy's only used the o-rings as well, shows how much the experts know...

Steve  
A little help... 'cause we don't all have to learn the hard way!