Advice on stuck valve covers?

[archtech]

Looks like previous owner used some sort of sealant on the valve cover gasket. I got the upper ones off, but the lower ones wont budge. I've hit them over and over with a rubber mallet on wood. Nothing. They're turbo covers... getting so frustrated that I'm about to take some vise grips to the fins and pull. I cant start the car to heat it up since all the oil is drained. I cant get a good angle to tap a plastic pry tool in between. Any suggestions? Help! Thanks...

[JAR0023]

Can you apply heat from a propane/MAPP torch? You've already gone through the progression I would have with the rubber mallet, wood drift, plastic pry bar.

Try a visit to the PO with the rubber mallet. Won't help with the car but might make you feel better. -J

[fanaudical]

I recommend heat from an electric heat gun (kinda like a high-output hair dryer); it's a bit safer than a torch as it won't readily ignite oil and they tend to spread heat a bit better. I use one routinely in place of a torch and it works well for most all jobs.

[Norm Faustino]

Tape a Ziplock freezer bag to it and fill it with some crunched up dry ice so that it contacts most of the perimeter of the valve cover... go to lunch (at least an hour) and when you return tighten two of the nuts on one end of the valve cover only, but not too tight. Then smack it around the sides of the V/C and it should pop. You may have to repeat this but it will work. The idea is that if it is on there with sealant, you want to make it brittle not pliable.

[Bob Kontak]

Off topic, but why does this thread smell like chicken?

[T77911S]

once you get them off, get a die and run it over all the studs. it takes some time. it helps to get a better torque or feel on the nuts.

[john walker's workshop]

screwdriver into the gasket at the end and tap with a hammer.

[Dodge Man]

The "Sealant" can also get around the studs to compound your issue. JW recommends is a good method with the screwdriver. $15 HF Heat Gun if you try to soften the goo with heat. There is also chemical gasket remover to "spot" soften things. Valve covers can be "home resurfaced" if you get some nicks.

The hack at PS Racing powder coated my covers and he did not clean out the bolt holes before installation(long story). I had to do a lot of work to get them off and I had the motor out (at home). I did not have gasket sealant thank goodness. Best of luck.

[archtech]

Yeah! Got it! Jacked up the car and took off wheels. Got underneath to get a good angle and view. Used a medium width chisel that I had ground to a sharp deep knife edge. Was able to set it right into the thickness of the gasket and tap... Worked like a charm. All the oil already drained out from the screw holes so no mess! No smelling like chicken!

Moral of the story... Don't short cut... Took only a few minutes to jack up and remove wheels... Wasted an hour or so yesterday....

Next on the list... Backside valve adjustment and scraping off the old gaskets. Thanks ya'll!

[Uncle]

Good work.
I had a bugger of a job getting one of mine off for the same reason.

[Charles Freeborn]

I have a mini-wonder bar that I've ground down to a sharp edge. Perfect for easing under stuck things like this.
-C