Rocker Cover Removal (Drivers Side)

[smcquill]

Anyone got an tips on saving me time....I noticed today that my drivers side rocker cover gasket is hanging out....I have removed hoses around the rocker cover and after a long time managed to remove the splined screws that hold the rocker cover on. Most of my time was spent trying to grind down my 8mm socket to fit the rocker cover screw nearest the bulk head behind the two coolant pipes attached to the Rocker Cover.

I've now managed to remove the screw but a good 30 minutes using long nose pliers to unscrew the spline screw a nip at a time...very frustrating.

has anyone any experiece of removing the Drivers side rocker cover and could give me some tips...?

cheers
SMcQ

[Ballistic Banana]

I managed to find a slim long reach 8mmm socket at a local hard ware store that fitted..just

BB

[dnb]

A Halfords professional deep 8mm 3/8" drive socket works quite well. Most of the other sockets are 6 sided and don't fit on a 12 spline bolt.

[smcquill]

thanks will buy one today

[marks3drtaz]

To make the job easier remove the plenum top, undo the two fuel lines (note which one is which), remove 4 10mm nuts from the fuel rail, lift rail off, you may need to gently prise each injector out, use a silicone lube on the O rings on the injectors on refitting as it helps them slip in better.

[Fat Griff]

I bought a 8mm 12 sided 1/4" drive socket for this! took me ages to find one! There rare as but it was the only thing for the job!

[clive f]

once you have the right socket, then you can just about get it off by removing the fuel pipes where they connect to the fuel rail above the rocker cover, then whilst holding the water pipes that lead off to the heater as high as possible you should be able to manouver the rocker cover off of the engine, may save a bit of time by having to remove the plenum and the fuel rail.

[spend]

It comes straight off, just undoing the 4 bolts on a pre-serp Unless you have all the baggage of PAS, A/C.....

Dave

[GreenV8S]

marks3drtaz said:

To make the job easier ... undo the two fuel lines ... lift rail off ... gently prise each injector out ... use a silicone lube on the O rings on the injectors on refitting as it helps them slip in better.

that for a lark, I wouldn't mess with the fuel rail unless you have to, which you definitely don't just to take the rocker covers off.

[clive f]

GreenV8S said:

marks3drtaz said:

To make the job easier ... undo the two fuel lines ... lift rail off ... gently prise each injector out ... use a silicone lube on the O rings on the injectors on refitting as it helps them slip in better.

that for a lark, I wouldn't mess with the fuel rail unless you have to, which you definitely don't just to take the rocker covers off.

wot he said.

[smcquill]

Thank guys, I have the messey one with PAS etc....I have freed up the power steering reservoir, undone the coil, removed the breather hoses and it came off eventually, was'nt pretty though.

Will be putting all back together hopefully at the wekend when teh new gasket arrives...fingers crossed...