Valve covers

[AdksBoi]

i'm finally gearing up to do my injector o-rings... wiring harness... and glow plugs this coming weekend.

I was in there before thinking about pulling the covers but the way the engine sits you can't get to some of the bolts. I don't know if maybe I have an engine alignment issue as it seems closer to the pass side... humm... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

Anyways.. any tips or tricks anyone can give me to removal would be GREATLY appreciated...

My knuckles and temper thank you in advance [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

[RayHell]

Hi,
the drivers side is not too bad, you get to all bolts from the inside except the two frontmost. Using long sockets will help a lot on some of the bolts.
The pass. side is worse, but you can do it by removing the dipstick tubes and injectors on that side first. (clean out well before you remove the inj. or sand & dirt will surely drop into your cylinders..) Then tilt the pass. side cover inwards to remove it.

Going to do the pass. side soon myself to replace a leaky gasket.
Good luck!
-Ray.

[AdksBoi]

My injectors are under the cover so I can't pull them for extra room. My concern with the pass side is that the engine is almost resting on the opening and there is a bolt right there that I can't get anything on.

Is it normal to be closer to the opening on one side than the other? I thought about dropping the engine a little but don't see enough clearance on the oil pan to do so.

I'm stumpted on this one

[RayHell]

"Injectors under the cover" what do you mean?
..not really sure where you're going here...
If you want to pull the injectors and the glowers you don't need to remove the valve covers. Taking out the air filter gives you enough space if you use long sockets. (1" for the inj, don't remember for the glowers, abt. 10mm I think..) -be careful when removing the glowers, they may have fastened good, so don't break them, and clean out the injector bores well before replacing, soot and sludge might trap under the copper washers. when I did mine, I made a tool for cleaning the holes; used a wooden stick and wrapped and tacked a strip of cloth tightly on the end to form a kind of firm brush. Moisted it in kerosene (not dripping) and rotated it in the bores. Rinsed it and then repeated.

As you've noticed the engine is not placed in the centre of the in-cabin opening, but quite a bit to the right. That is normal, and gives about no place for tools on that side... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

I've seen a method described to get more space but not done it myself:
- loosen the engine mountings on the right side, remove the dipstick tube(s)
- jack the right side of engine up until you've got space enough (5-10" ?) and place a piece of wood between the block and frame to support the engine
- lower the jack and do your work.

I'm with you, -these vans crave a lot of work to be fixed underhood [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] but you'll get used to it... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

-Ray.

[DieselDeaf]

Ray,

The Powerstroke (DIN) has the glowplugs and injectors under the valve cover, yours (IDI) has the injectors and glowplugs off to the side of the valve cover. Probably not many of either in your neck of the woods so it may be tough to do a comparison. I haven't pulled the vc's off of mine yet but if it's anything like my truck the pass side cover will magically slip off, might take a bit of maneuvering but it will come off.

[MADVAN]

I home made a 1inch body lift just for this reason.
Now i even got better front tire clearance.
4hrs spent installing my kit will save me years of time when going into the valve covers.
Wonder what the 6.0 vans are going to do. I will bet the dealer will be pulling bodies to make motor repairs. Dont think i want one of them!!!

BILL

[RayHell]

PS - of course(!) ...hrrrmm, bring me more coffee, I was asleep at the keyboard here.. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/phoney.gif[/img]