Keystone State Thread

Yes. First time ever doing a valve cover gasket. I unfortunately had to reuse and old spark plug seal as I ripped a new one. Bummer. Fingers crossed it doesn't leak. 1 side almost done on to the other side


I should have read the install instructions lol. It said to use white lithium grease to help ease the install. Dummy me.

 

That engine is shockingly clean for something of that vintage

 

I sprayed it down with foaming gunk engine degreaser like 6 times the other day before I started even working out it.

 

Front side done.

 

Front of the car is in rough shape. New headlights should be in today. But before I even put it back together gotta to the engine and trans mounts.

 

I was actually referring to the inside. Someone cared for that car at one time and kept up with the oil changes.

 

Ahh I gotcha. Yes it was actually very clean on the inside. I didn't touch any of that.

 

Back side isn't as clean. And the old gasket it putting up a great fight

 

Anybody have any tips or tricks to get a stubborn old valve cover gasket out.

 

These work pretty well in my experience

 

Talked to my friend that is a honda tech he said that it's normal for the exhaust side to look darker. Which makes sense now.

 

Got tired of fighting to get the old gasket out. So wrapped everything up for the day. Plus 20 to 30mph winds started to whip up. So I loosely put all the bolts back on the cover and everything else till tomorrow or the next day. Good thing it's a project and not my daily. I know when I get frustrated just to stop

 

I cant tell you how much time I have scrapping off old gaskets in my life time . Sooner or later I'm reaching for a razor blade and brake clean. Sometimes a brass or metal brush, sandpaper, steel wool ....helps but have to watch for aluminum surfaces. Good luck, time consuming for sure.

 

I did end up going for a razor blade. This is what nightmares are made from. I'll give it another go tomorrow or Tuesday. But I'm done fiddling with it for today.

 

I hear ya. Kick back and enjoy a nice stogie an a adult beverage!

I am minus the stogie , just putzzing around in garage. Gonna pull the deck off the rider to clean and change blades . They are from 2018.

 

Getting the pop-up aired out for the season, no critters made themself a home.

 

Cleaning the deck, 2 new blades, greased the 2 spindles , 2 hrs ..... or 1 Randolph Scott movie on Grit TV.

 

Do you have a shallow pan or some way to soak the gasket area with a solvent? Might make tomorrow a lot easier.

 

I do and that's a great idea thank you

 

these work really good I’ve used them couple time and beats the razor method

$41 Lisle 81780 Carbide Scraper Set

https://www.amazon.com/Lisle-81780-Carbide-Scraper-Set/dp/B074SL1MKX