HLA Maintenance & Valve Cover Removal Project Comments

**Panther37** · 11-12-03, 3:21

This thread is dedicated to comments on MX6.com > Cars > 1G MX6 (88-92) > 1G MX6 Projects > HLA Maintenance & Valve Cover Removal (HLA Maintenance & Valve Cover Removal)
If you have any comments or know of a better way to do it, please post here.

Thanks.

**el norm** · 11-12-03, 6:56

wow very impressive documentation.

Don't know if you guys find this helpful, but i found that it was easier for me to just take a quart or motor flush a fill a bowl with it, then u can submerge the HLA's in the motor flush, depress the little valve, and then depress the valve a few times while submerged until you don't see any more black oil squirt out. then just let them soak with the motor flush inside, and before installing do the exact opposite but with a quart of fresh oil.

also you could probably use the big can's of wd40 to do this, i just think that the motor flush is probably cheaper then a quart of wd40 and is actually ment as an oil additive right befor oil changes, and if you don;t mix it with oil it should be alot better at removing gunk. thats just my suggestion, and again nicely layed out and easy to understand.

**linoleum** · 11-12-03, 15:45

Panther - Nice job. I have a quick question:

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/ecr...iew=t&.hires=t

Again - Nice job on the pictures!

**Panther37** · 11-12-03, 16:59

The link doesn't work, but yeah, that black plastic thing is a spacer.

**linoleum** · 11-12-03, 17:08

Cool thanks! I need to replace a melted one from the old head on my GT.

coomarlin · 10-15-04, 9:19

I read the FAQ about replacing your valve cover gasket and it's pretty straight forward. Have a few questions though. What are the torque specs I should use when replacing the cover? The FAQ is not clear about that. I replaced the cover gasket a few years back without a torque wrench and I'm afraid I over tighted the screws. I'm getting some leaking in the corners of the cover. The FAQ said to also use RTV sealant in the corners which I didn't use before. I will try that. Anyway, info would be appreciated.

**SHIFTY__1** · 10-15-04, 23:58

you dont need specs. there just 10mm's. just tighten them in order to what 10 mm screws can hold. the valve cover doesnt have to be tight but a new gasket and some sealant in the corners will help. sorry im from australia and i dont know the inch converstions, its called a rocker cover here as well.

**AdderMk2** · 10-16-04, 2:58

55 in/lbs

**Guy2626c** · 10-16-04, 19:10

maybe 1/16 to 1/8 turn past hand tight. Seems to work.

**moebius** · 10-16-04, 19:38

I think it is either 14 or 15 ft/lbs.

**SixSick6** · 10-16-04, 19:50

You turn one of those to 14-15lbs and you'll be breaking out your extractor set.

Try 7 to 9

**Panther37** · 10-17-04, 0:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by coomarlin

I read the FAQ about replacing your valve cover gasket and it's pretty straight forward. Have a few questions though. What are the torque specs I should use when replacing the cover? The FAQ is not clear about that. I replaced the cover gasket a few years back without a torque wrench and I'm afraid I over tighted the screws. I'm getting some leaking in the corners of the cover. The FAQ said to also use RTV sealant in the corners which I didn't use before. I will try that. Anyway, info would be appreciated.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SixSick6

You turn one of those to 14-15lbs and you'll be breaking out your extractor set.
Try 7 to 9

7-9 lbs/ft is correct. I just did them hand tight, then one quarter turn past that. Remember, it's just a cover, not a mechanical part.

**el norm** · 10-17-04, 0:33

yeah my [shizzle] always been leaking, my dad finally got a really precise torque wrench so i think i'll take one more stab at it...

edit : lol i could of swore i never used the work shizzle in my life...

Aarons89MX6 · 10-18-04, 18:05

Retightened my valve cover to 15 ft/lbs. with no leaks......[shizzle!!!!!] should i loosen them if it isn't leaking??

coomarlin · 10-22-04, 17:15

I just replaced mine today and used the copper RTV sealant in the corners of the cover. WE'll see how it holds up. I took a can of degreaser and spayed the oil soaked section pretty heavily. After letting it sit for a while I took a toothbrush and scrubbed it. It was one hell of a mess. I sprayed it down with water afterwards. THe gasket went on okay I guess but after driving the car 30 miles since then I checked the valve cover and the gasket seems to be clean. What concerns me now is that it looks like either the head is leaking or some of the nasty spooge I couldn't get cleaned has run back across the engine block. I'm gonna definately have to take acloser look. This could be bad.

11-12-03, 3:21	#1 (permalink)
Panther37 The Mod With the Mostest. Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Patrick AFB, FL, USA Age: 27 iTrader: (0)	HLA Maintenance & Valve Cover Removal Project Comments This thread is dedicated to comments on MX6.com > Cars > 1G MX6 (88-92) > 1G MX6 Projects > HLA Maintenance & Valve Cover Removal (HLA Maintenance & Valve Cover Removal) If you have any comments or know of a better way to do it, please post here. Thanks.
	Where did all the common sense go? \| A tweel is a tire without air. \| Used to have a 1genA GT 1gen AND 2gen Custom Gauge Faces For Sale: White and Indiglo Are you going to beat me with your Jesus stick? (RIP Charlie) Loch is the one in the casket?

11-12-03, 15:45	#3 (permalink)
linoleum Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Phoenix, AZ, USA iTrader: (0)	Panther - Nice job. I have a quick question: http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/ecr...iew=t&.hires=t Again - Nice job on the pictures!
	91 DX 88GT Parts 4 Sale: cylinder head, turbo, exhaust manifold, intercooler, valve cover, intake manifold, more stuff just ask.

11-12-03, 16:59	#4 (permalink)
Panther37 The Mod With the Mostest. Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Patrick AFB, FL, USA Age: 27 iTrader: (0)	The link doesn't work, but yeah, that black plastic thing is a spacer.
	Where did all the common sense go? \| A tweel is a tire without air. \| Used to have a 1genA GT 1gen AND 2gen Custom Gauge Faces For Sale: White and Indiglo Are you going to beat me with your Jesus stick? (RIP Charlie) Loch is the one in the casket?

11-12-03, 17:08	#5 (permalink)
linoleum Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Phoenix, AZ, USA iTrader: (0)	Cool thanks! I need to replace a melted one from the old head on my GT.
	91 DX 88GT Parts 4 Sale: cylinder head, turbo, exhaust manifold, intercooler, valve cover, intake manifold, more stuff just ask.

10-15-04, 9:19	#6 (permalink)
coomarlin Join Date: May 2003 Location: iTrader: (0)	Valve cover gasket replacement. How tight? I read the FAQ about replacing your valve cover gasket and it's pretty straight forward. Have a few questions though. What are the torque specs I should use when replacing the cover? The FAQ is not clear about that. I replaced the cover gasket a few years back without a torque wrench and I'm afraid I over tighted the screws. I'm getting some leaking in the corners of the cover. The FAQ said to also use RTV sealant in the corners which I didn't use before. I will try that. Anyway, info would be appreciated.
coomarlin Join Date: May 2003 Location: iTrader: (0)

11-12-03, 6:56	#2 (permalink)
el norm Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: San Jose, CA, USA Age: 27 iTrader: (0)	wow very impressive documentation. Don't know if you guys find this helpful, but i found that it was easier for me to just take a quart or motor flush a fill a bowl with it, then u can submerge the HLA's in the motor flush, depress the little valve, and then depress the valve a few times while submerged until you don't see any more black oil squirt out. then just let them soak with the motor flush inside, and before installing do the exact opposite but with a quart of fresh oil. also you could probably use the big can's of wd40 to do this, i just think that the motor flush is probably cheaper then a quart of wd40 and is actually ment as an oil additive right befor oil changes, and if you don;t mix it with oil it should be alot better at removing gunk. thats just my suggestion, and again nicely layed out and easy to understand.

10-15-04, 23:58	#7 (permalink)
SHIFTY__1 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: perth, Australia Age: 23 iTrader: (0)	you dont need specs. there just 10mm's. just tighten them in order to what 10 mm screws can hold. the valve cover doesnt have to be tight but a new gasket and some sealant in the corners will help. sorry im from australia and i dont know the inch converstions, its called a rocker cover here as well.

10-16-04, 2:58	#8 (permalink)
AdderMk2 Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Smithfield, RI, USA Age: 25 iTrader: (0)	55 in/lbs
	1994 Ford Mustang Cobra (#1100 of 5009) 253.5RWHP 294.7RWTQ <--Dyno Plot Inside!!! BBK Equal Length Headers BBK O/R X-Pipe MAC Performance 2.5" Pro Dumps MAC Performance Cold Air Intake Professional Products 70mm Throttle Body Ford Racing Parts Underdrive Pulleys Ford Racing Parts Suspension Package Granatelli Motorsports Rear Control Arms Deep Dish 17x9/17x10.5 Black Cobra R Wheels 275/40R17 Front 315/35R17 Rear Sumitomo HTRz

10-16-04, 19:10	#9 (permalink)
Guy2626c Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: , NJ, USA iTrader: (0)	maybe 1/16 to 1/8 turn past hand tight. Seems to work.
	Please Note: The above statement is in no way the advice or comment of a professional, just an idiot working on a car in the driveway. 2002 Camaro SS 6-speed. 1990 LX Cheap is ok, Cheap and stupid is just another way to clean up the gene pool.

10-16-04, 19:38	#10 (permalink)
moebius Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Vancouver, WA, USA Age: 30 iTrader: (2)	I think it is either 14 or 15 ft/lbs.
	1990 626 GT 5 Door-- which "goes like a scalded weasel" says my father-in-law... on 1/2 throttle... Zoom Zoom...

10-16-04, 19:50	#11 (permalink)
SixSick6 Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: San Diego, CA, USA Age: 32 iTrader: (2)	You turn one of those to 14-15lbs and you'll be breaking out your extractor set. Try 7 to 9

10-17-04, 0:33	#13 (permalink)
el norm Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: San Jose, CA, USA Age: 27 iTrader: (0)	yeah my [shizzle] always been leaking, my dad finally got a really precise torque wrench so i think i'll take one more stab at it... edit : lol i could of swore i never used the work shizzle in my life... Last edited by el norm : 10-23-04 at 14:51.

10-18-04, 18:05	#14 (permalink)
Aarons89MX6 Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Virginia Beach, VA, USA Age: 27 iTrader: (0)	Retightened my valve cover to 15 ft/lbs. with no leaks......[shizzle!!!!!] should i loosen them if it isn't leaking??

10-22-04, 17:15	#15 (permalink)
coomarlin Join Date: May 2003 Location: iTrader: (0)	I just replaced mine today and used the copper RTV sealant in the corners of the cover. WE'll see how it holds up. I took a can of degreaser and spayed the oil soaked section pretty heavily. After letting it sit for a while I took a toothbrush and scrubbed it. It was one hell of a mess. I sprayed it down with water afterwards. THe gasket went on okay I guess but after driving the car 30 miles since then I checked the valve cover and the gasket seems to be clean. What concerns me now is that it looks like either the head is leaking or some of the nasty spooge I couldn't get cleaned has run back across the engine block. I'm gonna definately have to take acloser look. This could be bad.
coomarlin Join Date: May 2003 Location: iTrader: (0)