taking off my valve cover

[hockeyhelmet0727]

so i was thinking of taking off my valve cover to do a little painting and i was wondering what precautions i need to take while doing this. i searched and came up with nothing really of value. im looking for what parts need to come off before i actually take the cover off or anything of that nature.

[SR24DET]

Take out the spark plugs and take the bolts out to remove the valve cover. When its off, cover your cams and s*** with something.

[addisonblck]

^werd

[Quality_Salvage]

Take out the spark plugs and take the bolts out to remove the valve cover. When its off, cover your cams and s*** with something.

You mean ignition wires? I have never removed my spark plugs in order to change a valve cover gasket.

[Uberck]

im looking for what parts need to come off before i actually take the cover off or anything of that nature.

lol. undo the bolts mang. no rocket science

[Valiant240sx]

Take off your spark plug *wires* not your plugs themselves, and just try not to drop anything in and forget about it.....other than that just take the bolts out and try not to overtorque them when you put it back on because they will break if you do, good luck.

[hockeyhelmet0727]

i was talking to my boss who was formerly a mechanic. he said that i would need to buy a new gasket set because there is like a sock type thing surrounding the sparkplugs or some $#!+. i dunn i think im gunna take these words over his. ill have to look myself.

[OMSIN]

I know not every one is mechanicaly inclined, but seriously . you should have just figured it out your self in the first place, after taking off your valve cover use masking tape to cover if you don't want any thing gett'n in there

[wackawacka]

If you want to be safe get a new gasket kit. I definitely would. The "sock" he talks about may be the little round gaskets that seal off the spark plug hole, since the spark plug area is like a dry island in the middle of the oily valve area.

[OMSIN]

If you want to be safe get a new gasket kit. I definitely would. The "sock" he talks about may be the little round gaskets that seal off the spark plug hole, since the spark plug area is like a dry island in the middle of the oily valve area.

bingo

[SR24DET]

Yea, I ment spark plug wires. Stop worrying about it and just do it. And if you dont want to buy a new gasket, there is always RTV.

[hockeyhelmet0727]

thanks for the advice. \

[j-z]

you need a 10mm, and if you know righty tighty lefty loosey then youre good.

[0wn3r]

well depends what motor you have I guess, but for a 97-98:

there's a certain order to remove and put back on for the bolts. you'll find that in the factory service manual (FSM). other than that it's pulling off the stuff that holds it down, making sure not to drop any crap in there while you're at it.

other than that, you'll probably do a new valve cover gasket (which typically comes as a set with the middle spark plug piece with it), and you'll use RTV on the half moons when you go to put it back on.

remember, it's easy to those who have done it before.

[hockeyhelmet0727]

what does RTV on the half moons mean

[S13xCrazy]

Look at the valve cover gasket. Their are half circles that go down into the head on the gasket. You need a little bit of silicon on these bad boys when you put em back in.

Make sure you clean off the old s***.

[vancouverbc]

the main thing is to avoid stripping the bolt holes. we are dealing with aluminum.

look up timing chain rattle in tutorials. lots of info on how to remove cover.

[Wc240]

all the covers have a curtain "order" they have to be put back in. its not that big a deal tho. just dont tighten one side down all the way with the other side loose. jesus, its a stinkin valve cover! take off the wireslossen all the bolts and put em somewhere,anywherepull up on the valve covercover your s***.you probably need a new gasket anyways. if not, use the old onetighten the bolts in a cross pattern,just like lugnutsstand back and enjoy your hard labor, might even be able to do an install on it