I am considering replacing the valve seals on my f23a1 engine and I was wondering if anyone knew for sure from experience if this could be done by removing only the rocker arm assembly and leaving the cam in place so as to not have to remove the timing belt. If so this would be very easy. I have an air compressor and the attachment to fit the spark plug holes so as this point my main concern is avoiding taking anything else off ,as this is a last ditch effort before replacing or rebuilding the engine.

 

I've never done it but it seems to me that a valve spring compressor would be tough to use with the cam in place. Maybe not.

When I replaced the head gasket on my B2 I just flipped the cam up and out, and flipped it back in (with the marks lined up properly) without readjusting the timing belt. I know that's not per the FSM, but I was kind of in the same boat; on the fence between fixing or replacing the engine. Never had a problem, kept the engine for the time being, replaced the timing belt/WP six months later and noticed that the tension on the old belt was fine.

You're really not changing the position of anything so, assuming the tension is correct in the first place, I don't see any downside of R&R-ing the cam without adjusting the belt.

 

you can rent valve spring compressor for 20-25 bucks depending on the type, at autozone.