Valve cover gaskets

**spenc938** · 08-03-2008

Both of my valve cover gaskets are leaking, so this Saturday I am going to try and replace them. I am pretty car savvy, but I have never done anything like this before, so I want to ask lots of questions before I jump right in.

For the front:
Remove dogbones
Remove coil pack bracket.
Remove valve cover.
Remove old gasket, and clean gasket area.
Put new gasket on valve cover using drops of red RTV to hold gasket in place.
Torque bolts to 89 inch lbs. with blue loctite on the threads.
Reattach coil pack bracket.

For the back, there is a lot more stuff in the way, so if someone could kind of go over the basic steps I would really appreciate it. I know that I need to loosen or remove the alternator bracket, but there is also the EGR and an unknown black bar that I'm not sure about. Also, if I have something wrong for the front, please correct me.

Also, I bought some throttle body cleaner, but wanted to know if I would need a new TB gasket after removing the TB to clean it.

**Sabrewings** · 08-03-2008

I reused the TB gasket when I had to remove it to get a drill in position. On mine it stuck to the TB pretty good coming off. Careful pulling separated it. It sits into a recessed portion of the UIM so it's easy to put back on.

Here's a pic of how it came off on mine:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...2/DSC02405.jpg

And here you can see the recessed area where the gasket seats for you to put the TB on:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...2/DSC02404.jpg

The only thing I found strange was that I lost NO coolant when the TB came off. And the car was still warm.

**spenc938** · 08-03-2008

Good. I didn't want to have to buy anything else. I'll probably do that tomorrow, so that I don't have to worry about it on saturday when I'm doing the valve cover gaskets.

**Sabrewings** · 08-03-2008

As you can see mine was filthy.

I didn't clean it then, as I had no TB cleaner handy. I'm hopefully putting on a ZZP HVTB this weekend so I'm also putting in a new gasket this time (don't want to take my chances taking it off a second time). Then I'll still have to clean up my core so they don't ding me too much.

**spenc938** · 08-04-2008

I did the TB this morning. Mine looked like it was a lot dirtier than Sabrewings'.

Now that I have that done, can I get some help with the valve cover gaskets?

**Sabrewings** · 08-04-2008

Just guessing based off my experience working with the engine (haven't actually done valve cover gaskets... yet), but I would say the alternator, alternator bracket, engine cover bracket, and maybe the belt tensioner have to go. I'm not sure about the tensioner, but it looks pretty damn close.

**spenc938** · 08-05-2008

Ok, thanks Sabre. Anyone else have any input/suggestions? BTW, how long do you guys think this will take me?

**SyntheticShield** · 08-05-2008

Ive done mine before, but when I did I had the blower and the LIM off so I dont think I had to take the alternator bracket off that I remember, I was able to angle it out of there.

**Reptile** · 08-05-2008

The alternator bracket does have to come loose. If you play your cards right, you might be able to do it without spilling any coolant, but it may be required to replace those coolant elbows while you're there.

**spenc938** · 08-05-2008

Oh, yeah. I looked for coolant elbows at Auto Zone, and they didn't have any. Is there anyone else who has them besides the dealership?

**SyntheticShield** · 08-05-2008

Most any parts store with a 'Help' type section should have them.

**spenc938** · 08-06-2008

Went to another auto zone, and they didn't have them either. Maybe I'll try Napa. They are a ripoff, but they seem to have things that other's don't have.

**Seagya** · 08-06-2008

Originally Posted by spenc938

Oh, yeah. I looked for coolant elbows at Auto Zone, and they didn't have any. Is there anyone else who has them besides the dealership?

I would check again. I bought mine there when mine blew out on I-95. I now have an extra set at home.

**spenc938** · 08-06-2008

I've looked three times at two different autozones. Two of those times, I had a friend there with me who was also looking. We looked in the help section, and didn't see any plastic elbows of any kind.

**Sabrewings** · 08-06-2008

Have you asked the employees?

I've seen them at Oreilly's before.

**spenc938** · 08-06-2008

I probably should have, but no I haven't. From what I have read on here, none of the employees know what they are anyway. Anyway, I'm usually at Auto Zone a couple of times a week, so if I'm there again by Saturday, I'll ask. If not, then I'll start it and hope for the best. I've also heard that dealers usually keep these things in stock. If I break one, it wouldn't be too bad to run to a GM dealership.

**GTPluv** · 08-06-2008

One of mine was leaking and the other members told me not to get the 'Help' one, to go to the dealership. I got the upper and lower one. One was like $4 the other maybe $ 9. Turns out, I never found where the bottom one goes. Still have it. It wasn't worth my time to go back for my $4. Should have. Could trade it for a drop of gas.

**Seagya** · 08-07-2008

Originally Posted by GTPluv

One of mine was leaking and the other members told me not to get the 'Help' one, to go to the dealership. I got the upper and lower one. One was like $4 the other maybe $ 9. Turns out, I never found where the bottom one goes. Still have it. It wasn't worth my time to go back for my $4. Should have. Could trade it for a drop of gas.

The bottom is on the same bracket that the upper one is. And i would HIGHLY recommend replacing it if you have any chance to. Its not worth the engine to not replace 2 plastic pieces.

**spenc938** · 08-07-2008

Does anyone have part numbers?

Edit: I found a part number in another topic. It was 24503423. Just to be sure, are both of the coolant elbows the same?

Edit again: On the instructions that I got with the valve cover gaskets, it says not to use RTV as an adhesive to hold the gasket in place. But in this post by IndeedSS, it says to do exactly that. I'm assuming that I should listen to IndeedSS?