Valve cover replacement
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 163
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From: Fullerton CA
Valve cover replacement
When I bought my '80, it had cheesy chromed valve covers on the otherwise stock L-48. I bought some used L-82 valve covers (black aluminium) and cleaned them up to dress up the engine bay in a "stock" way. When I got to pulling the old chrome valve covers off, I found that they had used screw in studs to the heads to secure the valve covers. No big deal, but I wanted to use bolts to put the new covers on. The studs have a "star" pattern on the top of them. Is there a tool to remove these "reverse torx" type studs? Or do I need to do the "double bolt" trick to unscrew them?
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 49,198
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From: All in!
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03-'10
Re: Valve cover replacement (av8vito)
There should be a star pattern tool. I had to buy one to deal with the tail light screws on my '80. It was a coupla bucks at Auto Zone.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,190
Likes: 1
From: SIMI VALLEY CA
Re: Valve cover replacement (av8vito)
I think you mean double nut them. The studs are so much easier to use I dont know why you would repace them. If you want some that look cool buy ARP's. Also remeber to put gorilla snot on one side only of the gasket. That would be the side that touches the valve cover.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: Fullerton CA
Re: Valve cover replacement (JIM)
Thanks for the replies. Agree that the studs seem to be nicer, but unfortunately, the studs are only long enough to work with the chrome covers, which don't have raised seats for the bolts. With the raised seats on the factory valve covers, I'd need to get longer studs anyways. I think I'll take a look at doing that, as the covers on there right now don't leak (a minor miracle), so there must be something to using these studs.
