HO questions September 10, 2005, 06:33:00 PM Well I got my HO today and there are a couple of questions i have. First of all It has BBK headers on it :D but the left side rear tube is dented in pretty good so i dont know if i can try and pull out the dent or if i will have to look for another one or try to find some other headers to put on. The bad thing is they broke the right side valve cover and dont have one to replace it with. So my question is: Can i take the valve cover off without taking off the upper manifold? and Are the SO and HO valve covers interchangeable? Thanks for any helpAndrew Quote Selected
Re: HO questions Reply #1 – September 10, 2005, 06:49:35 PM QuoteCan i take the valve cover off without taking off the upper manifold?You probably could, but you would have to take a whole bunch of stuff off the upper manifold to do so. Much easier to just take the manifold off and leave the other parts on it.QuoteAre the SO and HO valve covers interchangeable? Yes they are interchangeable. Th HO valve covers are taller. Quote Selected
Re: HO questions Reply #2 – September 10, 2005, 07:00:59 PM QuoteThe HO valve covers are taller.Will the SO fit alright on the HO and clear everything then?QuoteYou probably could, but you would have to take a whole bunch of stuff off the upper manifold to do so. Much easier to just take the manifold off and leave the other parts on it.Well the engine is out on a hoist and it looks like the only problem with getting the valve cover off is the center bolt towards the manifold and if there is enough clearance to get the valve cover off without hitting the backside of the manifold. Thanks Quote Selected
Re: HO questions Reply #3 – September 10, 2005, 07:10:00 PM I was able to get my valve covers off on my SO engine with out taking off the upper manifold off. Took a little bit of phanagaling but it came off. Also using the rubber steel core gasket's saved me from the worries of messing up the gasket trying to get things back together. Quote Selected
Re: HO questions Reply #4 – September 10, 2005, 07:51:42 PM The valve covers are a direct swap.No worries.It's anly 6 bolts to leesen the upper intake,and it would save you a LOT of time replacing the valve covers.How does one break a valve cover?Did someone drop the engine? Quote Selected
Re: HO questions Reply #5 – September 10, 2005, 08:19:44 PM Wouldn't replace the valve cover,if the filler neck is broken off,you can use a liberal amount of jb weld and let it set for 24hrs and it will be as good as new.I had to do that to mine as the same thing happened and it's been fine for 20k now.As for the dent in the header tube,the left side rear tube rubs on the steering shaft and needs to be dented quite abit for clearance,believe me i know as i had to do it to mine.All in all it sounds like you should be just fine. Quote Selected
Re: HO questions Reply #6 – September 10, 2005, 08:49:29 PM Well the valve cover is beyond repair. Its got a whole large enough to see three of the valve springs and rocker arms. you could probably fit your hand in if the valve springs and rocker arms werent there. As far as the header goes: Is flow restriction a concern or should i just leave it? It is about half way collapsed right on the bend of the front passenger side tube. As i think about it now, i realize i posted the wrong tube was dented on the header in my first post and the wrong valve cover was broke The valve cover is broke on the driver side rear and i got them mixed up in my head which side was which its the left valve cover in the rear and the right front header tube. I think with the header i will try to get it to pull out some so it doesnt restrict the flow hopefully i can make it work otherwise i have to find some stock HO "headers" Thanks for the help and advice. Andrew Quote Selected
Re: HO questions Reply #7 – September 10, 2005, 11:01:53 PM Without a pic it's hard to tell,but stock headers are pretty restictive,probably more so or just as much as the crused tube.As for the valve cover,look around at the wreckers in your area,you should be able too find one. Quote Selected
Re: HO questions Reply #8 – September 11, 2005, 06:34:45 PM Is the header crushed for a reason? To clear the steering linkage perhaps?QuoteWell the valve cover is beyond repair. Its got a whole large enough to see three of the valve springs and rocker arms. you could probably fit your hand in if the valve springs and rocker arms werent there.You have GOT to post a pic of THAT and give us some details on how it happened. Quote Selected
Re: HO questions Reply #9 – September 11, 2005, 10:27:50 PM I dont know if i can get pics but i will try. I dont know how it happened is the thing. The car it was in washiznit hard on the driver side right at about where the A pillar is and the strut tower was moved a few inches but my dad thinks the junkyard hit the valve cover with the forklift when they were moving it. The hole is about as wide as a fork lift fork(probably 6 or 7 inches at least) and on the sides you can see where it looks like it could possibly be from the fork. They didnt have any other valve covers they said after supposedly looking. The header is crushed on the passenger side front cylinder tube so i dont think it was to clear anything. What does the plug for a MAF sensor look like and is it built into the injector harness or seperate? There was a harness that runs under the front of the engine with the starter wire and it doesnt look like it is on the T-Bird(though it could be) Just wondering if it was there or if the took it out seperately. Andrew Quote Selected