No valve stem seals?

[SuperNovaSS]

I recently bought a set of big block rect. port heads. They were fresh and when looking them over I could not see valve stem seals through the valve springs. I pulled one spring and sure enough there was no seal. The contact the guy I bought the heads from and he said he would ask his engine builder about it. Today he wrote this back to me:


"Before you tear the heads down, check with an engine builder you trust. I am told it was not an oversight, but that on high horsepower engines, race cars, dirt track etc... they do not run the seals. This reportedly prevents the valve from burning at high rpm's."

Is there any truth to this? It does not sounds right to me. I could see running loose seals to prevent guide wear but that is about it.

Thanks,


Jason