Valve cover obstruction

[bluemm]

I have a 75 1.8 and I am having problems removing the valve covers. These should be simple to remove as they just have a bailer bar holding them down. My problem is I can't get to them. My car has huge heat exchangers that block all attempts to pry the bailer bar up. I made a custom curved prybar to get in from in front of the rear tire, but the bar still will not move. Do I have to remove the entire exhaust system to change a $3.00 valve cover gasket?

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Try threading a shop rag through the wire bail. You can yank it downward to slide the bail off. It will likely be more of a problem to slide it back on...

I reach in and pry the aft end of the bail out of the hole in the head, which releases all of the tension on it and lets it just fall.

Putting it all back together might be a bit of a challenge. I push the bail up as far as possible by hand, but then use a screwdriver to push it up.

I do have the earlier-style heat exchangers. I am not sure how the later ones affect access. I would at least put that corner up in the air and pull the wheel off--you may find you have more access than you thought.

--DD