Valve cover gaskets- i need advice

[Greenpig4#4]

I am getting ready to change my valve cover gaskets becasue they leak and oil runs out and goes down and hits my manifolds and just is not a pretty sight. I have yet to put these on a ranger like this so is there any thing i should look out for?

 

[pillen140]

never worked on a 2.9 but dont over tighten the bolts, they are cheapies and a pain in the ass to get out once broken.

 

[Jspafford]

You can do it without removing anything from the engine, except maybe the coil wire off the coil pack. They are a bitch to get out, but they do wiggle out without too much effort. Be EXTRA careful not to drop the bolts when taking them out or putting them back in. Especially the ones towards the center of the motor.. I dropped one once.. It was a PITA! The hard part is getting them wedged back in there with the new gasket on and fresh RTV on them. It can be done. I would give yourself plenty of time and make sure to distinguish the washers on the bolts. The ones on the corners are shaped differently than the ones on the middle bolts. It is important they go back the same way they came off.

Do not over tighten. It will warp the valve cover and cause it to possibly leak again.

Good luck.. Any questions PM and I will shoot you my phone #.

 

[Psychopete]

Yeah, it's possible to get them out without unhooking a lot of stuff, I don't know about A/C equipped Rangers though... The trick is to sort of slide them under the wiring. The old wiring can get fragile so becareful.

You might also strip out the bolt holes from over tightening. I always lightly snug them up, get the engine warm and torque them down to spec. (Although I do not have those numbers handy) Check them for straitness on the edges while they're out. I am also thinking there is a sequence to follow as well.

I've used cork or rubber w/ no RTV (on several different engines), but under new valve covers. A lot of people suggest it, there's no reason you can't, it's more difficult to get them on and sometimes can be a mess to clean up later. I would more than likely if I had a buggered up valve cover to close up the gaps.

Pete

 

[Chic N Stew]

i have done them many times on my ranger, just like everyone else said, DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN THEM, i didn't remove anything, its about a 2 hour job if you know what your doing

 

[holyford86]

the passenger side is the easy one. The driver side you might have to unhook the fuel lines to access the cover. I believe that the torque spec is about 5 ft-lbs, about a half turn past hand tight is what I do.

 

[Greenpig4#4]

thank you I am getting a used straight used set off a buddies old 2.9 and new rubber gaskets to do the trick. i am just tire of smelling oil everytime i sit still in it, thanks

 

[mkpecor]

help

make sure to lable the thins you do take off 1 to 1 2to 2 i just did mine and its not that bad the heder bolts broke on the passenger side ,so i had to drill them out and nut and bolt them so soke the crap out of the befor hand,good luck man.

 

[holyford86]

umm...Manifold bolts have nothing to do with changing the valvecover gaskets. The valvecover bolts are bathed in oil usually so they just come right out.

 

[almostclueless]

Yep....valvecovers are fairly easy so long as the bolts arent overtightened and sensor safe rtv is used and in moderation.


That is, as long as ford's grand idea upper intake doesnt get in the way.

 

[blackbelair]

...Just to add my 2 cents worth on tightening the valve covers. Use an opposite pattern in drawing down the bolts. For example, tighten the top middle bolt until a slight tension is felt and then move to the middle bottom bolt until a slight tension is felt. Move back to the top again to a bolt next to the center bolt and draw it down with light tension. Next, move back up to the corner bolt, etc. Repeat this pattern maybe 3 or 4 times starting with the first bolt with only a small tweak of the wrench each time. Its far better to have the covers bolted down evenly than it is to bolt them down too tight, distorting the cover and crushing the gasket. Let the sealer do the sealing.

 

[Greenpig4#4]

The valve covers turned out great!!!!! I got a set for free off another 2.9 and painted them ford blue and swapped them into my ranger using felpro rubber gaskets.......thanks for all the help