Valve cover torque spec and tightening pattern.

[supersedan63]

As the title says, I'd like to know what the pattern and the torque specs are for the valve cover. Thanks

 

[xaisomboun]

When I did mine, all I did was go from the inside outwards in a circular pattern. Hand tightened all of them. Then re-checked the bolts after a day of driving to catch any loose ones.

 

[Terry Posten]

Exactly as listed.

I use a Snap-On nut driver and only hand tighten slightly.

Use Ultra Gray RTV sealant on the corners of the humps over the cam journals/CAS and a very small amount on the half moon spacer.

 

[supersedan63]

That's what I was thinking. Thanks for the help

 

[toybreaker]

Be extra carefull on the two end bolts! (red arrows)

The cover is most likely to crack there.


I usually run them down same as Terry, with a 10mm socket on a 1/4 inch driver.


Start all the bolts a few threads by hand, and then run them down with the socket till they just barely touch the cover.

Starting in the center of the valley, I'll start to snug the cover hardly/barely just a scosche working from the center two bolts towards the outer sparkplug gaskets.

do not snug the two down on the t-belt end yet.

With the spark plug gaskets hardware in the valley barely snug, it's time to the work around the outer edges of the cover.

Again, starting in the center snug the hardware down and work your way to the ends in a
diagonal pattern. The cover is pretty thick on the edges, so you can go a little tighter without worry of cracking the cover except for those two in the center on the timing belt end of the cover, just barely snug those.

Go back to the center of the cover and snug the bolts up a lil tighter in the valley working from the center out.

Go around the outside again, working diagonally



Do those t-belt end bolts last, and just barely snug them down.

Repeat the process a few times ( to get the gaskets to compress evenly )

Do one final pass and bring everything up to the correct torque values.
starting in the valley, then the outside, then the two on the t-belt end.

After a few heat cycles, check and tighten then up as necessary.

Re-check at your next oil change and you should be golden.

Good luck, and post up a pic when you're done. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif


edit

Could someone please post up the torque values?

(... irrc, should be in inch pounds )

can't search the library on this machine

Thanks!

 

[FlyingEagle]

Rocker Cover Bolts
2-3 ft/lbs
2.5-3.5 Nm
Sourced was the DSM 4g63 engine manual and CSM 89 4g61 engine manual.