[V8] removal of distributors/valve covers

[Kneale Brownson]

When I couldn't get the passenger side cam holding plate in place with the
damper mark at TDC and the driver side plate installed, I removed the
passenger side valve cover and discovered that the marks on the timing
chain gear were not facing eachother.  They could not be made to face
eachother with a considerable amount of torque applied to a wrench on cam
pulley bolt after taking off the belt.  I had to slowly move the crank away
from TDC until I could get them lined up and the plate installed.   So this
car obviously had its timing belt replaced (I've got the shop work order
from the PO's files) incorrectly, despite running ok.   The shop is a big
independant Audi/import specialist in Ann Arbor.   It's only six nuts and
two bolts and the valve cover gasket is rubber, so it shouldn't need
replacing.   I think I'll be looking under any V8 valve cover I do a timing
belt on unless I've done it before.


At 05:57 PM 10/4/2005 -0700, Buchholz, Steven wrote:
>... if you've got the TB tools en route you might want to spend this
>night bulking up for when they arrive by inviting your friends over for
>a case of Labatt's ... 
>
>You know, I've swapped a complete engine out of a car ... I've done two
>timing belts ... and I've got a couple of loose heads in boxes in the
>garage ... I don't think I've yet seen what's under the valve cover once
>... I know that I do want to get in there on the heads I rebuild to
>ensure the drive chains are in proper shape ... but other than that I
>see no reason to be in there ... 
>
>... you also posted a note about the tranny cooling lines ... if you
>plan to remove the core support you really should plan to pop the tranny
>coolant lines from the rad.  Note that it may take quite a bit of
>coaxing to get them out, even after you've removed the bolts that hold
>them in place.  
>
>Steve B
>San Jose, CA (USA)
>> 
>> Tonight I plan to take the spark plugs out as well as the distrib caps
>> and valve covers.Tb Tools are not in yet.
>> Any spark plug wires that I should remove ?
>> One wire goes to the ignition coil and it seems very tight .I couldn't
>> pull it last night.I'm not yet sure what has to come off to remove
>caps
>> and distributors.I see that the ignition coil is bolted to the
>firewall.
>> 
>> Also on the passenger side the 2 fuel lines are in the way of the
>valve
>> cover .I thought of disconnecting them at the regulator side,one end
>> only .Is that OK ?
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