Oops... Forum newbie needs some help
 

Greetings everyone...

I've owned a '72 coupe for about 6 years. It's been a great car but always needs a little tinkering after I let it set up in the garage for a few months.

To make a long story short, yesterday I went to pull the spark plugs and couldn't find my plug tool. I went with a standard type of spark plug socket and managed to get it lodged down below the valve cover. Tried several different options in getting this socket out.... duct tape...short extensions.... hitting myself over the head with a hammer, etc..

Will I need to replace the gasket on the valve cover after removal or can I manage to salvage it with some care. Fortunately my covers don't leak....and I'd hate to start slinging oil all over the engine compartment. :mad: :mad: :mad:

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated..... this will be the first of several questions I have.... I've got alot of the typical issues that these cars start to have after 30 years on the planet.

Thanks in advance!

jd

You don't say how old your gaskets are, so I'm going to say I would replace it. They are not that much $. Now if you had just performed a valve adjustment and oil change, and thought you heard one valve off on one bank. I would say go for it, since the gaskets are not very old. I have had to do this on the intake valve covers, but I wouldn't do it on the exhaust side, because of the oil that would run down and coat the surface.

Ahh.... yes
 

Thanks Makaio...

As a matter of fact... About 2 years ago I had Carrera upgrades done on the valve covers along with a valve adjustment..... a replaced oil return line, carb synchronization....and some other stuff. I've put maybe 600 miles on the car in 2 years. I think I'll go for it unless anyone else says STOP, NO , DON'T!!!

All this and my friggin' tach still doesn't work!

Thanks :)

Go for it...they shouldn't be that tricky to get off. Just don't scrape off old gasket with a sharp screwdriver or something...

Good luck!

Top valve covers don't see so much oil at all (as all drains into lower ones), so they aren't leak-prone...so it's low risk.