Valve Cover Gasket?

[Jaymes]

Good day all,

My new to me 97 80 has a substantial leak around the valve cover gasket, nothing that drips, but enough that most of the engine is coated in a thin layer of old oil/grease. looking at it it seems that removing the valve cover is quite complex, does anybody here have good hints or tips for getting to all the valve cover bolts in order to pull it off and replace the gasket? Also for getting the cover back on and keeping the gasket in place while doing to. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,

Jay

 

[nukegoat]

Most people just smear a bead of jbweld around the outside and call it good

 

[OGBeno]

Most people just smear a bead of jbweld around the outside and call it good

Worst advice ever.

 

[Jaymes]

Worst advice ever.

I figured that. I have started removing the bolts for the valve cover, and have all but one off. Some of them were very loose, and that in itself may be the issue, but it seems like the previous owner used some sort of liquid gasket before, will this make it more difficult to use the correct gasket now? And do I have to remove the intake manifold to get the last bolt up under it?

Thanks,

Jay

 

[OGBeno]

You DO NOT need to remove the intake manifold to get the VC off.

4 bolts for the throttle body, disconnect the vent hoses, pull the wires (carefully).

I've always like to pull the heater valve as well just to have a little more room to move the VC.

The cruise control cable and the accelerator cable can be removed from the TB-- mark their location first.

 

[nukegoat]

Worst advice ever.

Why? Itll probably work maybe

 

[OGBeno]

Why? Itll probably work maybe

Exactly my point.

 

[Red Merle]

Exactly my point.

I would just keep dumping oil into it if that is going to be the effort. At least the next guy won't have to get all that crud off.

 

[HooDoo]

If you wait long enough it will look like this.

 

[antor]

I'm about to do my valve cover gasket also and clean my throttle body. Do I need to drain any fluids before I start? Are there any write ups on this?

 

[OGBeno]

See above.

 

[george_tlc]

If you are removing/replacing the valve cover gasket you should replace the spark plug tube seals since they are likely rocks versus pliable seals. Do the PVC grommet as well (in the valve cover).

cheers,
george.

 

[BILT4ME]

And since you have all that open, may as well replace your distributor O Ring as well.

And don't break off the hose nipple on the back of the radiator in the process.

You will also need a new throttle body gasket (metal) Do not over-torque the VC bolts when reinstalling.

 

[bigredmachine]

nothing speciall needed to tak the vc off, but you may need a u joint or swivel socket for the bolts back by the firewall. definitely unbolt your heater control valve as it can crack and youll be replacing it a week later like i did.

the half moons in front should also be resealed, black fipg. they just need a light tap to free them up, take them out and clean off all the old fipg, put a bead of fipg on the half moons and put them back into place.

 

[Jaymes]

You DO NOT need to remove the intake manifold to get the VC off.

4 bolts for the throttle body, disconnect the vent hoses, pull the wires (carefully).

I've always like to pull the heater valve as well just to have a little more room to move the VC.

The cruise control cable and the accelerator cable can be removed from the TB-- mark their location first.

Thanks for all the help on this, your advice on the throttle body was great. I was able to get it off, but am now fighting with the dried out gaskets from the spark plugs, this was clearly a project that needed to be done.

 

[Jaymes]

Thanks for all the help everybody, all the advice is greatly appreciated by a rookie to the world of the 80 series.

 

[ajax1]

Make note of the way the spark plug seals go back in so you don't backwards them, get yota gasket , clean the grove good on valve cvr and place new gasket in, go wrist tight on the bolts do not over tighten

 

[deltapine1]

X's 2 on the spark plug seals and PCV grommet. They look really good cleaned up and painted if you have the time or desire.

 

[Jaymes]

If you wait long enough it will look like this.

My engine isn't quite that gunked up, though your heater lines do look a good bit better than mine... got the thing on the east coast, so some rust here and there.

 

[george_tlc]

Some pics if you need some ideas on orientation of the spark plug seals etc etc. Info within this writeup:

Injector Service

cheers,
george.