I'm about to take a spare valve cover to the powder coaters. Thought I better strip out all the rubber before they put it in the oven.

I pulled lightly on one of the spark plug donuts and it ripped. Stuffed if I can get them out.

Do they come out? Can you replace them? What's the trick?

 

Put a screwdriver in from the outside and try to angle it so it presses against the solid section of the seal, then hit with a hammer to drive it out. You will trash them when you remove them.

Otherwise, from the inside, use a dot punch to tap the outer edge of the seal away from the cover enough so you can grab it with long nosed pliers.

 

BTW, screw some bolts with wide washers in where the coil packs are bolted to the cover. They use this surface (not the threads) for their earth. Saves having to scrape away the power coating later.

 

Got them out. Damn they were cooked in tight.

Chris, do you get donuts with those gasket kits you buy?

 

Yes.

 

Good stuff. I'll order one now. Which vendor do you prefer?

 

Also ensure that they do not touch the inside of the valve cover with shot blasting etc...


good luck

 

Thanks Nick.

 

Remember the guy that powder coated his valve cover and ended up with gasket material in his vtec screen.Said,he hoping none of it made it to the oil sump but was going to pull the pan to see.

 

I'm soooooo disappointed. I thought this was going to be a thread on how to get free donuts. I guess I should have realized this is Under The Hood and not OT. Really got my mouth watering too.