Thread: Stripped Valve Cover

Quick question: I was replacing the tensioner assembly and there is a bolt that supports the alternator that goes through the valve cover. When I was bolting it back in, it ate away at the plastic of the valve cover.

I'd imagine I have to now replace the valve cover. Is there an alternative?

It's not supposed to go through the alt you put the bolts back in in the wrong order.

It's not the long one that the alt bracket goes to. It is the second one more towards the driver's side that has a rounded bottom.

None of them go through the valve cover

Yeah I don't know now. I guess it sounds dumb that a bolt would go into the valve cover. It looks like someone has witnessed this before. I guess I have to replace the valve cover. And also figure out where I swapped that bolt from. Sigh. lol

I think the 2 rear bolts need swapped. I used rtv on my buddies car when he did that

Ok, I got some pictures. I can't believe I did that. Stupid.

I have to imagine that the middle 3 bolts are the tensioner bolts. I was using the one all the way to the left on the top that punctured the valve cover but I'm now figuring the one all the way to the right is what I should have been using.

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Now would be a good time for valve cover gasket replacement!

Yeah, I'm trying to find a new cover, lol. It looks like gmpartsdirect has a good price but I'm unsure about their diagrams. It says to confirm with them the part number but I can't seem to find it.

Junkyards have them... put up a post here. Lots of guys have spares. Unless you or Dave have stopped in. hahahahaha Drunkie did the same.

Yeah, you might as well call my drunkie for such a costly bone-headed move, lol. Gaskets probably need replacing anyway. I bought a front and rear cover for $50 shipped so not too bad. Lessons learned.

Would anyone advise against buying valve cover gaskets from gmpartsdirect for $14 a piece rather than Felpro gaskets at about $28 a piece?

I have the felpro gaskets. I..um....I mean a friend of mine once did the same thing as you. I'm not sure what I....um...I mean he was thinking. I guess I..er...he wasn't paying close enough and marking his bolts upon removal.
LOL.

Yeah, it seems like this happens now and again. I didn't have time to JY one but there are members doing partouts all the time. Murphinator shipped me one quickly for a good price.

Make sure whichever gaskets you get that you have new grommets as well

Yeah, I picked up a front and back cover and I'm just gonna do both. Come to think of it, the gmpartsdirect ones might not come with the grommets. I'll just pick up the Felpros then. Thanks.

The L67 Fel Pro kit usually has them. The L36 doesn't..but then they are all so cheap when they don't have SC on them.

I should just stay away from cars. lol

I was placing the heater hoses back into the tensioner assembly and when I was ratcheting down the bolt that kind of holds the heater hose down, I cracked the thread. It's still partially attached.

Is that a big deal? The heater hose stays in place on its own.

I don't imagine it'll change your life. Think you can figure out a ziptie fix?

Anyway, I wanted to thank you for helping out my self-esteem as an amateur mechanic.

Send me your address in a pm. I'll send you a tensioner for the cost of shipping.

It's aluminum!