Valve Cover Gasket job

[octanejunkie]

Oh, and to be really smart, I'd break up that factory harness cover into small chunks as soon as I had the lower plenum off (and intake openings taped up!) and before taking the valve covers off. That way all the little shards won't go into your valve train .

Yup. I tend to cover open engine areas when working around them to keep errant, unwanted items out.

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[4Runner4Leon]

Yup. I tend to cover open engine areas when working around them to keep errant, unwanted items out.

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Perfect! I was just making that suggestion because most tutorials have you try to snake the valve cover out while pulling and tugging at the harness. I started that way too, but with the valve cover halfway out, the harness started disintegrating into 100 pieces, leaving the valve train exposed.

So preemptive destruction of the harness cover might be the way to go!

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[octanejunkie]

I preemptively destroy tons of stuff, whether it needs destroying or not. This is right up my alley

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[firemanj92]

A 32mm socket aids in helping drive in the new spark plug tube seals, or at least with me it did.....

I just used the open end wrench and levered it to pull the seals out.

You can do it in under 8 hours. Biggest issue for me was screwing around with that stupid plastic harness cover, trying to keep it from disintegrating which is futile. If I did it again, I'd round up some 1" or 1.5" split loom, and use it to replace the factory plastic harness cover.

Everything else is super easy.

Definitely not worth trying to salvage the factory harness, just wire loom it-grey is rated at 500 degrees.

 

[LittleCaesar]

From when I replaced mine, almost eight years ago....
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/5vzfe-leaky-valve-covers-fixed-56k-beware-149594/index2.html

Photobucket can still kiss my bass........

 

[octanejunkie]

Definitely not worth trying to salvage the factory harness, just wire loom it-grey is rated at 500 degrees.

I can't seem to find 1" rated higher than 300°

 

[4Runner4Leon]

I can't seem to find 1" rated higher than 300°

I think 300F is as good as you'll find. That should be more than adequate for this application.

 

[firemanj92]

I can't seem to find 1" rated higher than 300°

I think I bought it from a local, mom & pops, electronics shop. The 300° should do just fine. I initially tried to save it with aluminum tape but that stuff just tore and the harness broke up under it and crap fell in the heads. The second I did the covers due to cam covers leaking is when I wire loomed it. -(1st time took 7 hrs, second time took 5 hrs. (just for comparison timing belt took me 3-4 hrs). I think I could do the covers in 3-4 hrs now though)-J

 

[octanejunkie]

I think I bought it from a local, mom & pops, electronics shop. The 300° should do just fine. I initially tried to save it with aluminum tape but that stuff just tore and the harness broke up under it and crap fell in the heads. The second I did the covers due to cam covers leaking is when I wire loomed it. -(1st time took 7 hrs, second time took 5 hrs. (just for comparison timing belt took me 3-4 hrs). I think I could do the covers in 3-4 hrs now though)-J

3-4 hours plus a scenic drive on the 5, sold! Come on down

 

[4Runner4Leon]

(1st time took 7 hrs, second time took 5 hrs. (just for comparison timing belt took me 3-4 hrs). I think I could do the covers in 3-4 hrs now though)-J

Same here - took 7 hours the first time, 3 of which was trying to protect the stupid harness cover and then deal with the broken shards. Second time could be done in 3 hours tops, especially if the harness has been sacrificed .

 

[octanejunkie]

No progress bump for [MENTION=7105]Scramble[/MENTION] :hatsoff:

 

[nissanh]

Seems like many of us here doing the valve cover gasket this month! I am nearly done with the project. Just need to get the fuel return line at the regulator.
That 53 INCH-lb torque for the valve cover bolts is just something I cannot achieve!

 

[octanejunkie]

Seems like many of us here doing the valve cover gasket this month! I am nearly done with the project. Just need to get the fuel return line at the regulator.
That 53 INCH-lb torque for the valve cover bolts is just something I cannot achieve!

Harbor Freight has an inch-pound torque wrench for $19, if you trust it

 

[4Runner4Leon]

Seems like many of us here doing the valve cover gasket this month!

December is the official "Valve Cover Gasket" month, didn't you know that?

That 53 INCH-lb torque for the valve cover bolts is just something I cannot achieve!

Why not?

 

[skepticninja85]

This also another major maintenance I must do as the oil burning is annoying and the engine is covered in filth. Along with probably new spark plugs if they are not double grounded or in good shape as I recently acquired my 97 2wd ltd runner

 

[octanejunkie]

This also another major maintenance I must do as the oil burning is annoying and the engine is covered in filth. Along with probably new spark plugs if they are not double grounded or in good shape as I recently acquired my 97 2wd ltd runner

The timing belt is more "major" IMO as an error there and the car won't run, but both are a fair amount of work for a neophyte.

Lower ball joints, radiator, and valve cover gaskets are a great place to start for the new owner / mechanic of a 4Runner

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[rkymtnman]

I have to admit...this job was far more fun with the motor out of the truck

 

[nissanh]

I bought an inch-lb torque wrench from HF just for this purpose! But knowing how frequent the valve covers break, I cannot do it.... though I have 3 pairs of extra OEM valve covers with me at the time.

 

[4Runner4Leon]

I bought an inch-lb torque wrench from HF just for this purpose! But knowing how frequent the valve covers break, I cannot do it.... though I have 3 pairs of extra OEM valve covers with me at the time.

Ah, I see... Don't worry about it, 53 in-lbs is not going to break anything (fingers crossed).

 

[octanejunkie]

Got the cam plugs in 2 days but it looks like USPS lost valve cover gasket #2 so I'm stuck

It shipped from Houston on December 13 and the last update was on December 16, nothing since then. The seller is doing their thing "tracking" it but not reshipping it. Yay me.