Started the Valve Cover gasket replacement *pics*

[iMod]

I'm in the middle of the valve cover gasket replacement. I have a few questions so I'd really appreciate it if you guys could give me some info.

I've taken off two of the bolts in red, and loosened the other two on the bottom. I can't get that stuff off though, am I supposed to take off the screws in green as well? That's what I'm guessing but I don't wanna just take them off and find out there was an easier way. If I take off the green bolts I'll have to replace the gaskets in there as well cos I can kinda see a gasket inbetween the two pieces and sealant as well.

Curious and a bit worried about this one. It had oil and crap all in there. Is that normal when you blow a valve cover gasket?

This is a hose I just unclamped. It had all kinds of dry stuff in there almost like soot. Is that a bad sign?

After seeing my hoses and how crappy they are or rock hard, I've decided I'm gonna change all the hoses while I'm at it.

 

[SupaMan]

yes you have to take that y pipe off i dont know of a better way than that,
replacing the gaskets would be good might as well do it while its off.

the nipples on the valve covers are supposed to have oil in them its normal.

 

[iMod]

thanks for the reply, I was kinda waiting around for an answer before I went out and tore it apart some more lol.

Oh one other thing, can I use that material that's blank and you cut out your own gaskets? Or is that kinda stuff easy to break?

 

[SupaMan]

id just buy the gaskets from toyota their prolly cheap and much less drama.

http://www.cygnusx1.net/Supra/Library/EPC/Figures/MA8825C.gif


youll need 17128-42020. EPC says its $12

 

[iMod]

cool thanks for the info. I just wanted a second opinion but yea I'll drop by the toyota dealership today and pick them up.

 

[iMod]

are any of the nuts and bolts I'm taking off needed to be screwed in with a torque wrench? Cos I don't have one but my friend has a shop and I know he'd have them.

 

[iwannadie]

Get a new throttle body gasket, new hoses(any you take off, they crack), new Y pipe gasket, vacuume tube(buy it in bulk at the parts store in the right size just cut to fit as needed). The cost of hoses and gaskets from toyota will add up real fast, but they are the best quality and worth it if you plan on keeping the car.

Also buy a few cans of throttle body cleaner and clean the the Y pipe and throttle body as well as you can. I just used shop paper towels and sprayed and scrubbed it down, let it dry nicely.

I used engine cleaner to really clean the valve covers, inside and out. I had I think Engine Brite Gel, just spray it whip it off. A stiff brush for the outsides to get them clean.

Clean everything you can while its apart, it will make life easier. Also, scrap the old gaskets off totally, a razor blade or actually buy a gasket scraper to do it.

If you get stuck PM, I did mine for the first time a few months ago, may be of some help lol.

 

[suprarx7nut]

Green bolts must be removed.

If you had a ton of soot in that top coolant hose going to the TB, I would think you should flush your coolant system.

As for the torque wrench, you should be ok without one if you can estimate at all. The valve covers are not too tight, about 2 ft-lbs or 20 inch lbs? :dunno:

The rest of the bolts should be on tighter, but dont need to be forced too much.

You'll also need to remove the throttle cable linkage assembly thing, lol. I'm pretty sure thats the official term for it. There is a little ball-end that just pops/pulls off and there are a few bolts to remove.

Good Luck!

 

[iMod]

I removed the valve cover bolts and the grommets are still there. Are they re-usable or do I have to buy new ones?

 

[iMod]

Did I do something wrong? The gasket isn't fitting. It says it's for the 7MGE engine. I'm half tempted to just use the old gaskets. They seem to be fine, besides the fact that the guy who last owned the car put in A TON of sealant.

 

[IJ.]

^ Wrong Gasket for sure

 

[iMod]

It's stupid cos the box says it's for the 7MGE

 

[SupaMan]

thats weird even if they were for the gte and miss marked the covers are the same size IIRC.

 

[s383mmber1]

My 7mge gaskets were EXACTLY like that. I squeezed them in, and there was a small bump in the middle of each side.

Tightened em down with a little fipg and no problems so far

Not to say i suggest using that gasket....

 

[BlackMKIII]

What happened to getting parts from Toyota?

I gave you that shopping list for a reason :wtc:

 

[cuel]

Doesn't the 2J have similar valve covers, and a slightly longer motor? Was thinking maybe that's what those are for, just packaged wrong.

 

[iMod]

I was gonna get them from Toyota but I called the toyota dealerships in like a 25 mile radius and they don't have them. They can order them but they don't have them on hand. I ended up calling my friend up who happened to be about 25 miles north and he found one that's some japanese brand but it fit perfectly. The problem is that he only bought one though...

One last question for the night. Where exactly does the sealant (yes I got "The Right Stuff") go? I know it has it in the TSRM but I can't really understand where it's showing. The last guy had sealant everywhere...on the gasket, inside the depression where the gasket goes, oh the hoses...everywhere...I hate sloppy work...It just means more work for the next guy who comes along and I just happened to be the next guy to come along =Z

 

[s383mmber1]

In the corners of the sections were the cam gears are (the 90 degree angle spots)

And a very very very small bead around the whole thing.

 

[iMod]

oh ok cool

Hey since I have the valve covers off I figured I might as well clean them off. I'm almost done with the first one. It looked pretty much like the top one before I started cleaning it. Oh yea and all that stringy crap is sealant I had to scrape off.

 

[BorHor]

I got a Fel pro one a few weeks back. So far so good.