Planning on doing these for the 1st time tomorrow. I've done some searching on the forum, and I've seen where some members have ONLY used the new gaskets, and some where members have used the new gasket plus a sealant. For the valve covers, I assume it's the gasket only.

Does the old valve cover gasket normally stick, and if so, how should I remove it?

I believe someone said to clean the old oil that leaked with brake fluid. Is this correct?

Concerning the ground wire that attaches to the rear left (when viewing from the front) valve cover closest to the firewall, about 10" away from teh valve cover, the plastic tubing is gone, and the wire is fraying. Can I replace this with any ground wire, or does it have to be a flat wire like is currently on there? I have plenty of 10 and 12 guage stranded wire from working on my motorcycle.

How about the differential? I have a metal brush that attaches to my drill, so I plan on using that to remove any gasket that sticks. Thoughts? Do I need to use any type of liquid solvent to clean up afterwards?

I still have the grinding sound from the differential (i'm guessing) when I hit the gas. When in neutral, it doesn't grind, so it's not the tranny. I plan on taking my truck to Alabama (2.5 hrs) next weekend if I can correct this sound. ANY help is greatly appreciated.

I'm also replacing the spark plugs (NGK copper v-power), plug wires (bosch), oil (valvoline max life), filter (fram), differential plug, oil plug/gasket, etc tomorrow. With 148K on it, I have no idea when the last time any of this was done, but it's been a while. Anything else I should check quickly?

 

Valve cover I didn't use sealant just the gasket. I used a paint scrapper to get off the old gasket then used acetone or paint thinner to get the oil off. The acetone works to clean up most surfaces that get a gasket. Not positive on the metal brush on the rear cover I know it has to be a certain type just don't remeber which.

 

Stock Diff covers is just old rtv sealan"t anyway. Scrap off old and put new sealant on it. I used ultra grey. Held up fine. You can touch it up with a little wire wheel if you want just don't use anything that is going to cut into the metal, like a grinding disc....

Old valve cover gasket should pop right off its a big thick rubber gasket if I recall correctly. I recomennd replacing it with the fel pro.


Take your oil filter back and get a puralator. I wouldn't put a fram on my aunt's 20 year old corrolla.

 

As said, get the proper gaskets (felpro) for the VCs. Be done!

Here is rtv for diff. Be done!



Wix and Mopar filters are great choices too!

 

How long do I need to wait for the sealant to dry before adding gear oil? I torqued the differential bolts per Haynes manual (35 ft lbs). The oil that came out was way overdue for a change. Bits of the old gasket were in the bottom.

I did get fel pro gaskets, k&N oil filter, and a new differential plug. Used a wire cup attached to my drill to remove old sealant.

 

I usually wait..... about five minutes.

 

The key is to go back out and retorque them again after a couple hours. Before you do anydriving.

 

I took it for a test drive...5 mins max. Came back, shut off engine, and could hear a small "snick snick" sound under the hood. Opened it and the sound came from the valve covers, possibly the rockers for 2-4mins. Any idea what the cause is? I don't remember that sound before the valve cover gasket change