Valve Cover Seals Help Please

[iMod]

yea now that you mention it, some of my hoses are rock hard too. One even cracked so I replaced it. I'll try and just do the little fixes I guess. I'll take some pics and post there here tomorrow if I can. I'll circle the parts that I found bad and let you guys tell me if they're anything major.

 

[cuel]

I have a friend that owns a euro car shop. He works on Ferarri's and BMW's and all that kinda stuff but he said he'd help me fix the Supra and put an engine in it. I helped him pack up some of his stuff when he changed shops so he owes me kinda.

Get your buddy to help you fix the motor you have. These are beautifully easy compared to any of the Euro's.

 

[AJ'S 88NA]

I agree with most of the guys here about fixing your existing motor. I went the route of getting a replacement motor that was suppost to have 36kmiles, WRONG. After the switch they sent me another that they said had only 36k, WRONG. I ended up rebuilding my original motor. Unless you really know the car that the motor came out of you are better off saving your original unless you have no other choice. You can spend a lot of time and money screwing with bum motors and you will be a lot more in the hole when you proably would have to do the same repairs more or less to a replacement. I know some guys have gotten some replacements and didn't have very much trouble with but I think there are more that did have a lot of trouble and ended up in the same place with less in their pockets and a lot of wasted time. If you can't rebuild it yourself or have somebody help you with some experience you would be better off getting one that has been rebuilt by a well known builder. You can also gain a lot of experience by doing it yourself and you have plenty of support here with any problems you might have. It looks hard even with a book, which I recommend you get, but you will probably find just like changing the VC gaskets a fairly simple job, once you accually start getting your hands dirty, things will make a little more sense.

 

[iMod]

Found this pic on eBay.

1.) What is this piece and what does it do? mine is sealed off but my instructor has a 89 Supra and his has a little rubber cap. Is mine supposed to have that too?

2.) This one isn't too big of a deal. It split down the middle when around the same time that my car stopped working. I found out later it's a valve cover seal, but I was still wondering what this piece's function is.

3.) Someone pointed out that I was missing something there. They said that something was supposed to screw into that threaded hole. Are they right or is that something that has to do with the turbo version and doesn't affect my NA. There's another hole similar to that one but I can't remember where it was.


Don't call me a n00b. I could've told you that myself.

 

[suprarx7nut]

#2 is your PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) system. It's purpose, AFAIK, is to take any combustion gases that get past the valve seals and put them through the combustion process again, therefore lowering emmisions. :dunno:

Anywho... that little piece that's cracked on yours should be replaced to keep out any stray air/debris that may make its way into your intake.

I believe its about 4 bucks from toyota.

 

[cuel]

1.) Is a dashpot(?) It's used to keep the throttle from snapping shut when you take your foot off the pedal, which would choke the engine and make it stall(basically). It should have a little rubber boot on the bottom of it with a foam filter in it.

2.) Replace the hose. Its part of the crank case ventilation system.

3.)There's supposed to be a bracket(or brace) there, iirc, that goes to the head.

 

[wchico15]

does anyone know where exactly it says on the tsrm about putting sealant on the valve covers? i've been trying to look for it but i cant find it.

 

[GotBoost?]

^^That's right.^^ I was doing that last night while putting my motor back together and decided to check the TSRM, but it doesn't say anything about using any sealant on the valve cover gaskets. So i'm not putting any. I am using new grommets, seals and stainless steel (hex) bolts, which may keep the VC from leaking.

 

[iwannadie]

^^That's right.^^ I was doing that last night while putting my motor back together and decided to check the TSRM, but it doesn't say anything about using any sealant on the valve cover gaskets. So i'm not putting any. I am using new grommets, seals and stainless steel (hex) bolts, which may keep the VC from leaking.

Right here, first pic on the page, first line too. Good luck with leaks without sealant there.

 

[iMod]

Okay first off I wanna say thanks so much for all your help. I've actually learned a few things.

after seeing that link that iwannadie posted, I got a better idea of what I'm doing and what I'm replacing. The bolts circled in red is already explained. I was wondering if that's probably the reason why that valve cover seal broke.

Secondly, I understand what I'm seeing in the pic. So the part in green is what I'm taking off and the seals under there are what I'm replacing? That was the biggest thing keeping me from fixing the engine. Cos I don't know the names of different parts in the engine. So when everyone says valve cover seals, I have no idea what I'm looking for. I know it's seals but I didn't know where the valve cover is, so I can replace the seals.

 

[AJ'S 88NA]

Yep. The green long things are the valve covers and the seals are on the bottom. If you were missing those two screws it would really leak.

 

[iMod]

Ahh I see, it makes much more sense now. I'm sure it won't be hard to fix. I remember seeing LOTS of orange looking goop and goop fingerprints on the hoses and stuff and all along the edge of the valve covers. I've heard before when there's that much sealant that it's actually bad. Is that true? I was told that it should be put on but not overdone and slopped everywhere cos that actually makes it weaker.

EDIT: Does anyone know the serial number for those particular bolts so I can order them. I imagine there's specific bolts that go in there.

 

[AJ'S 88NA]

I'd go to the hardware store and get some cap screws, you should get new washers for the screws though, they have little rubber washers on them to seal around the bolts(dealer), when you pull one out you will see what I mean. You only have to put a dab of RTV sealant in the corners of the VC were it makes a right angle at the front of the VC.

 

[cuel]

Lowe's carries metric bolts(even in stainless, iirc), and yes, to much silicone is a bad thing(makes a nasty mess). It only needs to be in the corners specified in the manual, like AJ said.

Oh yeah, and with a bolt or cap screw(not the stocks phillips head screw), you can put A drop of red locktite on the tip of the bolt threads to keep it from vibrating loose over time. One drop is enough, more is unnecessary. My valve covers don't leak. I did this when I did the head gasket 2+ years ago, and did it again when I had the covers off around 6 months ago. Don't over tighten the bolts, either. Best to put them in with a 1/4" ratchet, and just snugged. They're easy to break, or worse, strip the aluminum head...

 

[iMod]

I don't think the guy who last owned it put washers in there. =Z

 

[iMod]

All right I'm ready to try and replace the valve cover seals. Is there any last things you guys think I should know before I start. Any forgotten do's and don'ts?

EDIT: I called about the valve cover gaskets and they said they have them at shucks for $23.00. They said I need the upper intake manifold though? Is that a problem or another part to buy or is that a part of the car that's already there?