Valve cover gasket / Throttle body cleaning in progress...

[sjcruiser]

Hi guys,

I've decided to replace my valve cover gasket / plug seals and clean the throttle body while I'm there. Now that I have all the necessary bits off, cleaned, and safely laid on the garage floor, few questions though:

1. The distributor gear and its surrounds look very brownish (and somewhat dry) comparing to the rest of other internals, including the timing chain, which seem to be well lubricated. Is this normal?

2. Throttle body is thoroughly cleaned. I did not find any crud built up in any of the ports. However, I only looked through the ones that are visible/disconnected (ones on top). Is there any others that I should be aware of? What about the intake manifold side? (Also, the big middle hole on top of the manifold is blocked by the throttle body. What's it for anyone knows?)

3. The two half moons look clean with no leaks. Should I touch them?

I appreciate any help/tips that you could throw in.

Thanks in advance,
Frank.

 

[Taildragon]

1. I can't comment about the dryness however this is a great time to replace your distributor O ring, while your in there. I just did all this on my 95 80 and the O ring was about as plyable as your valve cover gasket.

2.Can't really comment

3. I had to reseal mine b/c they came out with the valve cover. I wouldn't have messed with them if they had stayed in place.

I replaced my pcv (its the thing sticking out of the valve cover) it was completely gunked up. Plus its super easy to replace when its on the garage floor vs on top of the engine.


Justin

 

[krzyabncanuck]

2) I want to say that is connected to the egr system, from just cleaning mine up, but could be off here.

 

[sjcruiser]

1. I can't comment about the dryness however this is a great time to replace your distributor O ring, while your in there. I just did all this on my 95 80 and the O ring was about as plyable as your valve cover gasket.

I replaced my pcv (its the thing sticking out of the valve cover) it was completely gunked up. Plus its super easy to replace when its on the garage floor vs on top of the engine.

Justin

I already have PCV, grommet, and most of other stuffs for the job (been on the garage shelf for more than a year!) I'll add the distributor O ring to the list if it does not involve setting timing afterward when I call Dan or Beno today (broke one of those vent hoses on top of valve cover)

2) I want to say that is connected to the egr system, from just cleaning mine up, but could be off here.

It was just cast alloy on the throttle side (no hole)

Thanks again,
Frank.

 

[sjcruiser]

Just found this thread started by IdahoDoug:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/14657-how-clean-your-throttle-body-3.html

The throttle body pictured by Nakman ('96) does have a ported hole in the top middle position, while mine ('97) does not. Was this a design change anybody knows?

 

[96r50]

It's not a hole in the throttle body, it's just an accumulation of soot from the EGR. The hole is machined into the intake manifold to complete the EGR tube, and then the throttle body seals off this access hole (right below the end of the rubber hose).