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Topic: Valve Cover Gasket Replacement (Read 2145 times) previous topic - next topic

Valve Cover Gasket Replacement

Reply #15 –
Storm is brewing outside so I decided to clean up my mess and put stuff inside the garage and cover up things. I got a little bit done today (I know, I'm slow lol).








After a bit of sanding and polishing. Still have quite a way to go here. Some more polishing and lots of cleaning - have only touched the polished part so far. Will touch up with some black hi temp paint I have and then use some hi temp clear engine enamel to finish it up. Not killing myself too badly on it. This engine will never be show quality or anything but I just want it to look a little nicer.

I will work on the cover some more in the garage later and then finish up everything else in the morning. I decided not to worry about polishing the rest of the stuff in the engine bay for now. I have to have it back together tomorrow so I don't want to have it unfinished before I go camping.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
'86 Turbo Thundercat (Cougarbird)
'02 TrailBlazer LT 4x4
'08 Chevy Cobalt

Valve Cover Gasket Replacement

Reply #16 –
If that old v/c gasket was the type that had little grommets at the holes, make sure none are stuck into the bottom of the v/c.
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo

Valve Cover Gasket Replacement

Reply #17 –
Quote from: Chuck W;324025
If that old v/c gasket was the type that had little grommets at the holes, make sure none are stuck into the bottom of the v/c.


It wasn't, was flat. :) I will make sure to look for any debris in the holes though. I also checked that the cover sat level and wasn't warped in any way too and it sits level so that is fine as well.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
'86 Turbo Thundercat (Cougarbird)
'02 TrailBlazer LT 4x4
'08 Chevy Cobalt

Valve Cover Gasket Replacement

Reply #18 –
All fixed!

Thought I was going crazy earlier btw and felt like an idiot because I couldn't locate the PCV valve. Resulted in looking in my Hayne's manual.. low and behold, the '86 HAS NO PCV! :D So that I just left in the box until I decide what to do with it. New gasket is awesome! Much better than the old and zero leaks. Took the car for a spin around 6:30pm and drove around for a while. Did a couple hard pulls with it to bring forth any leaks. First pull, no issues - but wow she is pulling strong tonight. Second pull, left a burned rubber trail from first through second gear and then cruised down the road I notice smoking - HELLO LEAK. Drove it back to the house a couple miles away and checked the exhaust for smoke - no smoke - checked under the hood to find oil all over everything on the drivers side near the firewall dripping all over the bellhousing below.. Checked all the connections again, and degreased it with my cleaner and sprayed it down clean and started her back up and observed.. no leak... rev'd it up a bit several times including one hard one to 4500 or so.. no leak.. close the hood, hopped back in and drove her down the road a few miles to my grandparent's house.. floored it twice and ran through a gear or two on the way to replicate earlier.. got there..  no leak. *shrug* Cleanest I've ever seen the engine bay in the car. Drove her back home just now.. no leak. :) Whatever it was that was loose is fixed now.

Really happy with it. Sadly.. I have a newfound problem but its kind of funny.. :rollin: Driver's side window almost got stuck down on me a minute ago, had to really pull and fight with it to get it up, looks like something is wrong with that window now, lol. Probably off track a bit or something isn't quit right with the regulator. I'll figure it out later. Funny though consider the passenger side just got fixed a couple days ago. At least when things break they get a newer part. That's always been my motto with this car.

I'll post the new cleaned engine bay pics in my Freshen Up thread since it is more relevant there.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
'86 Turbo Thundercat (Cougarbird)
'02 TrailBlazer LT 4x4
'08 Chevy Cobalt

Valve Cover Gasket Replacement

Reply #19 –
Quote from: fluke;324088
All fixed!

Thought I was going crazy earlier btw and felt like an idiot because I couldn't locate the PCV valve. Resulted in looking in my Hayne's manual.. low and behold, the '86 HAS NO PCV! :D So that I just left in the box until I decide what to do with it..


Wait?  What?  The 86 TC most definitely has a PCV valve.

See the attached pic...that is the PCV.  Take the one out of the box and install it there.
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo

Valve Cover Gasket Replacement

Reply #20 –
Quote from: Chuck W;324109
Wait?  What?  The 86 TC most definitely has a PCV valve.

See the attached pic...that is the PCV.  Take the one out of the box and install it there.


Whoa.. my Hayne's manual is funky. oo I'll do that first thing in the morning. Thanks for showing me that! Goes to show experience is better than a book. :hick:
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
'86 Turbo Thundercat (Cougarbird)
'02 TrailBlazer LT 4x4
'08 Chevy Cobalt

Valve Cover Gasket Replacement

Reply #21 –
If you read the first page in that haynes manual they say our tc's have a 2.5l 4cyl lol at least mine does. check your dipstick tube where it goes into the engine block when i replace my vc gasket it wasnt in all the way.

Valve Cover Gasket Replacement

Reply #22 –
Quote from: daddybair7;324121
If you read the first page in that haynes manual they say our tc's have a 2.5l 4cyl lol at least mine does. check your dipstick tube where it goes into the engine block when i replace my vc gasket it wasnt in all the way.


..wow.. :rollin: yeah, I think I'm not gonna use that particular guide for that again without asking here first. "83-86 Models No PCV" my *** :punchballs: I had it in my hand too is the dumbest part. lol I'm an idiot. :hick:

Yeah, that space between the dipstick tube was a pain in the butt, I pulled it aside with a wrench and a bungie cord (the one I use to hold that dipstick down all the time anyway) while I worked there.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
'86 Turbo Thundercat (Cougarbird)
'02 TrailBlazer LT 4x4
'08 Chevy Cobalt

Valve Cover Gasket Replacement

Reply #23 –
New PCV valve intalled, lol... :D

I'll put this pic here anyway:

[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
'86 Turbo Thundercat (Cougarbird)
'02 TrailBlazer LT 4x4
'08 Chevy Cobalt

Valve Cover Gasket Replacement

Reply #24 –
Quote from: fluke;324122
..I pulled it aside with a wrench and a bungie cord (the one I use to hold that dipstick down all the time anyway) while I worked there.


Well, with a proper, working PCV valve, you shouldn't need that bungee cord to hold the dipstick down...
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo
 

Valve Cover Gasket Replacement

Reply #25 –
Quote from: Chuck W;324138
Well, with a proper, working PCV valve, you shouldn't need that bungee cord to hold the dipstick down...


Finally.. thank god lol :D  Thanks for all of the help, Chuck! I really appreciate it!
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
'86 Turbo Thundercat (Cougarbird)
'02 TrailBlazer LT 4x4
'08 Chevy Cobalt