I was thinking of setting the valves up today but was having a heck of a time getting my valve cover to clear the rear-most rocker arms.

Anyone got any great tricks for wiggling that guy out of there?

 

I found rotating it towards the exhaust manifold, then sliding it to the side got it out. I've heard others rotating towards the intake manifold, then sliding it out that side as well.

 

Yeah seemed the exhaust manifold side was easier but the heater core hose fitting is in the way... Think I'll have a beer and mull it over.

 

i found it easiest to pull the all the bolts out i could (which was all but the back one i think) then lift it up (push it into the insulation on the firewall hard) and slide it over towards the exhaust manifold. She'll slide right out. The first time i took the valve cover off it took me ~10 minutes. Now it only takes me about ~30 seconds

 

That's exactly what I did. Came out fine.

 

I always pull all the bolts out, even farthest at the back. If you tear a small hole above the farthest back bolt you can remove it farely easy and the valve cover will come out very easy by just lifting it straight up and sliding it frontwards.You wont even be able to see the tear in the insulation you made if you do it right and dont get to carried away.

 

Someone else on another forum suggested the same technique...anyone else tried it?

 

Just slide it towards the passenger side while pushing down on the heater hose, then move forward when valve cover is about 1/2 the way off the passenger side. All bolts clear the rockers and it makes removing a snap. Using an air ratchet I can get a VC off in about 30 seconds.

Doug

 

There is a steel fitting on the heater core hose that won't allow that on mine.

I got it off without too much trouble by rolling it to the drivers side and carefully wiggling it out by moving the blt between the rockers. Not much trouble at all. I think the fact that it's about 10*F was kinda zapping my motivation saturday afternoon....

I like the hole in the insulation idea. That's a good tip and would make it super easy.