Great techinque for removing Valve Cover

[mattdev]

I just took off my valve cover the other day and discovered a great technique for removing it. This way will make it MUCH harder to put a gash in your head, or valve cover, gasket surface.

First I went along the HEAD side of the gasket w/ a razor blade to free up the gasket. (The valve cover side of the gasket is actually recessed into the cover, so you would be cutting gasket on that side.)
After it is free from the head (enough to slide relatively easy) I stuck a putty knife and slid along the same side to free it up some more. Then slide a 2nd putty knife, on top (or under) the first. THEN insert a screwdriver between the two knives and pry. I used a rubber mallet to hammer it in and the seal broke once it was in. Try this in a few locations along the front just to spread the load and it should just come off clean. I only had to do this on the front and the rest all came off cleanly w/ it.
I did have to remove the radiator hose so be sure you have a pan ready for a small amount of coolant. Obviously when it is cold...

And a putty knife is obviously interchangeable w/ any thin, bendable piece of metal...

That should do the trick

 

[bmoha2]

The only time I ever tried to take my valve cover off it refused to budge. I took all the bolts out and the spark plugs out of course and nada. No move. I wasn't doing it for any great reason and didn't want to damage it so I let it stay on. I've never had any problem removing a valve cover before so i thought it was kinda weird.

 

[spyder97gs]

I need to replace mine soon. The half moon has a pretty good leak.