Couple Q's after valve cover gasket replacement

[tay97gst]

First of all, how does my head look? Anything look bad?

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Second, i noticed when taking off most of my outer screws for my valve cover that they were really loose. And then realized when putting the valve cover back on that they wouldnt bite. Did the previous owner like strip the threads in the head or something?

And third, there's smoke coming out the exhaust right now, is that normal after a valve cover gasket change?

 

[bryanwheat]

First off, nothing looks out of the ordinary there. Second you put it back together with out all the bolts tight? That will leak no doubt. You can try longer bolts, or just helicoil the holes. And is the smoke coming out the tailpipe of off the manifold?

 

[burkgonzo]

Either you or the prior owner probably stripped the threads, they don't require much torque.

 

[tay97gst]

Smoke coming out of exhaust, i let the car idle for 20 mins and then took it for a 15 minute drive and don't see any leaks around the valve cover.