Silver Seal

About Silver Seal Products

Few names in the engine rebuilding world carry the weight of Silver Seal Products Co., Inc. Founded in 1959 by E.L. "Spike" Havens, the company was born out of a simple but important insight: engine builders needed a better way to renew worn valve springs without replacing the entire head. Havens invented, patented, and launched the VSI® — the Valve Spring Insert — and Silver Seal has never looked back. Today, more than six decades later, the brand remains one of the most trusted sources for specialty engine components and machine shop supplies in North America.

A Legacy of Precision Engineering

Silver Seal’s growth has been driven by strategic acquisitions and an unwavering commitment to staying ahead of evolving engine technology. Over the years the company has expanded its portfolio to include the MicroSleeve line of repair sleeves (acquired from the original 1974 manufacturer), the Seal-Lock crack repair and thread insert systems, and a full range of abrasives through its Advanced Abrasives division. This depth of product breadth means that professional engine builders and machine shops can rely on Silver Seal as a true one-stop resource — from the first inspection step to final assembly.

Operating out of their main facility in Trenton, Michigan, Silver Seal supports customers across the US and Canada through an extensive network of more than 20 warehouse distribution locations, enabling fast, same-day order fulfillment backed by in-house technical support.

What Silver Seal Makes

Silver Seal’s catalog is deliberately broad, covering nearly every phase of engine rebuilding and machine shop work. Highlights include GM LS/LT engine parts (lifters, lifter trays, rocker arms, and more), VSI® Valve Spring Inserts, cylinder head and short block rebuilding components, and the company’s flagship Engine Crankshaft Repair Sleeves — precision-machined sleeves that restore a worn crankshaft sealing surface to factory-spec without requiring a full crankshaft replacement. Alongside these engine parts, Silver Seal offers a wide range of machine shop tools and supplies including abrasives, chemicals, sealants, coolants, lubricants, crack repair products, thread repair inserts, flywheel grinding accessories, and measuring and testing equipment.

For shops that need the right tools to go with their repair components, Silver Seal also stocks dedicated Clutch & Sleeve Installation Tools designed to work seamlessly with their MicroSleeve repair sleeve lineup. These tools take the guesswork out of sleeve installation, ensuring proper seating and preventing lip damage that can compromise a fresh seal job.

Who Uses Silver Seal?

Silver Seal Products serves a wide audience: professional engine rebuilding shops, performance engine builders working with modern GM LS and LT platforms, heavy-duty diesel specialists, and serious DIYers tackling in-depth engine repairs. Whether the job calls for restoring a worn crankshaft journal, rebuilding a cylinder head, or stocking a machine shop with high-quality abrasives and sealants, Silver Seal’s catalog has the depth and the heritage to get it done right.