jdb168

...go ahead and give the standard slap in the face that I deserve...

I found oil in my plug wells a few days ago, and decided that I should replace the plug well seals, and, of course, while I'm at it, the valve cover seals (and my plug wires and plugs). All parts bought, ready to work, I embarked on taking off the valve covers.

I looked the job up in my Haynes, and the manual seemed to suggest that it would be quite easy to get the valve covers off as long as I was willing to detach a few other items first. Well, Haynes couldn't have been more wrong. Despite disconnecting the intake from the rubberized air intake assembly, removing the throttle body and upper plenum, the fuel rails, the heater core coolant line, and finally disconnecting the clutch cable (!!), I still can't get off either valve cover! And this is where you should slap me in the face... I should really have posted on the forums before doing this job....

Anyway, anybody have suggestions on how to get these valve covers off at this point? I tried raising the engine, but unlike on my Outback, the engine itself doesn't lift away from the frame when you raise the car from the K Member, so this has gotten me nowhere. I'm desperate here--any other suggestions?

thanks
Jon

97targa

Well, I changed mine before I instaled the motor so I wouldn't have you problem. I'm sure if you unbolt both motor mounts (22mm wrench I believe) jack up one side of the motor at a time. You shouldn't have to remove the fuel rials, but you willl have to remove the T/b as you've done and also the egr pipe protector on the driver side. It's a black plate. The valve cover will hit this upon istallation. Also I would reccomend putting silicone every 6 inches or so and on all the corners to hold the gasket in place because it will want to fall out of it's groove. Dab the silicone on the valve cover before you put the new gasket on it.

BraMas

Last time I took mine off I undid the motor mounts and jacked up one side of the engine to get them off