94 Valve Cover Removal
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 904
Likes: 0
From: Boynton Beach FL
94 Valve Cover Removal
Hi,
I've got some bad vibrations coming from my engine compartment. (during idle, and under hard acceleration, I posted about it in another thread).
Someone mentioned it could be a rocker arm broken? (My mechanic says it could be opti, or bad spark plug, wire, etc).
Just wondering, if I take the valve covers off, would a noob like me be able to see if something was wrong? I have never done engine repair, but am interested to learn. And as far as putting valve covers back on, is it just those 4 torx screws, or is there a gasket I will need to repair/replace when taking the covers off? And how many ft.lbs of torque should I apply when putting the screws back in?
Or am I asking for trouble, and should I just wait 2 or 3 weeks for my mechanic to take a look for me? (I'm all antsy in my pantsy to get it fixed, my vette is still 'new' to me and I want to continue to drive it vigourously... track meet is coming up in a couple weeks).
Thanks,
John
I've got some bad vibrations coming from my engine compartment. (during idle, and under hard acceleration, I posted about it in another thread).
Someone mentioned it could be a rocker arm broken? (My mechanic says it could be opti, or bad spark plug, wire, etc).
Just wondering, if I take the valve covers off, would a noob like me be able to see if something was wrong? I have never done engine repair, but am interested to learn. And as far as putting valve covers back on, is it just those 4 torx screws, or is there a gasket I will need to repair/replace when taking the covers off? And how many ft.lbs of torque should I apply when putting the screws back in?
Or am I asking for trouble, and should I just wait 2 or 3 weeks for my mechanic to take a look for me? (I'm all antsy in my pantsy to get it fixed, my vette is still 'new' to me and I want to continue to drive it vigourously... track meet is coming up in a couple weeks).
Thanks,
John
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 904
Likes: 0
From: Boynton Beach FL
ttt.. sorry for being impatient but was hoping to take a look inside the engine tonight after work... any harm in me popping the valve covers and looking? Are there gaskets I have to worry about tearing/destroying?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,263
Likes: 86
From: O'Fallon Missouri
The valve covers are easy to remove, at least the passenger side. Just remove the 4 torx bolts and lift off. The drivers side you may need to pull the alternator. I have done the driver's side without pulling the alt, but it is a close fit.
Also, the gakets are reusable. Just clean the oil off them and the mating surface of the head. Don't worry about torque, just get the bolts snug.
Also, the gakets are reusable. Just clean the oil off them and the mating surface of the head. Don't worry about torque, just get the bolts snug.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,263
Likes: 86
From: O'Fallon Missouri
Oh, forgot one thing. Remove the 2 (each side) fuel rail cover studs. These secure the fuel injector harness, and will make it easier to pull the valve covers with the harness loose.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 904
Likes: 0
From: Boynton Beach FL
Ok, thanks for all the advice...
if it turns out to be the opti, my mechanic has never heard of Dynaspark... he says he usually just takes the opti out, cleans it, and dries it with a blow drier? And then puts it back it in.
Does this sound like a good plan? Or should I insist on trashing the opti and getting something else? (I know, I should just read the trillion other posts about optis, huh)...
Thanks again.
if it turns out to be the opti, my mechanic has never heard of Dynaspark... he says he usually just takes the opti out, cleans it, and dries it with a blow drier? And then puts it back it in.
Does this sound like a good plan? Or should I insist on trashing the opti and getting something else? (I know, I should just read the trillion other posts about optis, huh)...
Thanks again.
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
Likes: 71
From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
You won't need to remove the alternator completely but you will need to get it out of the way. Remove the belt and remove the rear bracket completely, (three bolts) loosen the the pivot bolt, the long one closest to the outside and remove the short bolt towards the inside. This will allow you to swing the alternator upward for valve cover removal on the driver's side. You should be able to leave the wires hooked up for this operation. When reinstalling the covers, the bolts do not need to be real tight. They seat at the proper level to seal the cover gaskets and only need to be tight enough to stay tight. You may want to go ahead and replace them anyway while they're off. Although they are reusable, with time they get compressed and may begin to seep. Also replace the grommets for the bolts. They are even more likely to cause a leak because they lose tension with age.
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