Valve cover replacement

[unleadedbrew]

I did a search on this and found a thread by Rich stating that the EGR pipe did not have to be removed to take the passenger side cover off. Can anyone enlighten me on how this is done? Or if it can be done. I can't see how.
I've already chipped the drivers side cover by getting in too much of a hurry :cry
so I've slowed down. Had another set painted and ready to go, anyway.

Any help will be most appreciated! ;help
Thanks in advance,

Gordon

 

[Mart]

There's no way without removing the EGR pipe, it sit too close.

Mart

 

[unleadedbrew]

There's no way without removing the EGR pipe, it sit too close.

Mart

Thanks Mart.... That's what I though. Now a little more help if you don't mind. After taking out the 2 star bolts at the top, does it just lift out or what? I can't tell too much about the lower portion by the exhaust manifold.

Gordon

 

[rrubel]

You really don't have to remove the whole pipe. You disconnect the clamp that holds it to the exhaust manifold (which is a pain to put back on) and then it moves out of the way enough to pull the cover. Taken the covers off 3 times and never had to remove mine until I finally took it off because my new headers didn't have a bung for the pipe...
[RICHR]

 

[Mart]

Yep rich is right on the money, just move it out of the way. The drivers side is a little trickier.

Mart

 

[unleadedbrew]

You really don't have to remove the whole pipe. You disconnect the clamp that holds it to the exhaust manifold (which is a pain to put back on) and then it moves out of the way enough to pull the cover. Taken the covers off 3 times and never had to remove mine until I finally took it off because my new headers didn't have a bung for the pipe...
[RICHR]

Sure was hoping you'd chime in Rich. Thanks loads.
So it's the bottom clamp that gets released? That sure looks like a PITA. Not much room to work. Oh, the joys of vette ownership!
I thank you very much and I may be begging for more advice, so please don't leave the universe.

Gordon

 

[Mart]

NO NO NO, the clamp under the distributer, not the dist clamp, but the one with two bolts in the intake.

Mart

 

[unleadedbrew]

NO NO NO, the clamp under the distributer, not the dist clamp, but the one with two bolts in the intake.

Mart

Thank yew, thank yew, thank yew, Mart... I sure wooda been cussin'
I pretty much knew the 2 bolts had to come out, but it just didn't look like a clamp to me. It's that danged 'clamp' word! :L

Gordon

 

[rrubel]

Yes yes yes! CLAMP. I'm talking about where the pipe meets the EXHAUST manifold, NOT where it meets the INTAKE manifold. There's a small clamp (sometimes it's a hose clamp, sometimes it's the original weird clamp) that keeps the end of the pipe against the bung in the manifold. I'd send a picture, but as I said I don't have it installed right now.

Driver's side is fairly easy; I discovered the trick is to take the pulley off the smog pump (loosen the bolts with the belt on, then remove the belt to finish taking the pulley off). That way you can loosen the bolt on the smog pump/alternator bracket and allow the cover to slip past it. At least, that's the way it's working for me...

[RICHR]

 

[unleadedbrew]

Yes yes yes! CLAMP. I'm talking about where the pipe meets the EXHAUST manifold, NOT where it meets the INTAKE manifold. There's a small clamp (sometimes it's a hose clamp, sometimes it's the original weird clamp) that keeps the end of the pipe against the bung in the manifold. I'd send a picture, but as I said I don't have it installed right now.

Driver's side is fairly easy; I discovered the trick is to take the pulley off the smog pump (loosen the bolts with the belt on, then remove the belt to finish taking the pulley off). That way you can loosen the bolt on the smog pump/alternator bracket and allow the cover to slip past it. At least, that's the way it's working for me...

[RICHR]

OK, I'll get this yet. I do have the original 'weird' clamp at the exhaust. It's very heavy looking..........Do you have a secret decoder ring to get it loose?
I've already done the driver's side, just about the same as you did. The whole time I've been thinking about changing these covers out, it all boiled down to the EGR pipe and what to do about it.:confused I've read every manual I can find and the only one that tells how to change the valve covers is the Chiltons and it says to remove the passenger side exhaust manifold. For a valve cover???
So, I somehow have to get that clamp off, right? I still have to take the star bolts out of the connection on the intake, right? Then get on bended knee and beg the Almighty to park a new C6 on top of it, right?:L
Anyway, thanks and a tip-o-the-hat to you both, Rich and Mart. I've got to get this done, because I want to show the before & after pics. See, there is an ulterior motive.

Gordon :Silly

 

[rrubel]

OK, I'll get this yet. I do have the original 'weird' clamp at the exhaust. It's very heavy looking..........Do you have a secret decoder ring to get it loose?

Ugh. Was afraid of that. Mine had a hose clamp. Let me check the shop manual...

Frick. Ok. Reason Chiltons says to remove the manifold is because that's what the shop book says for servicing things like the heads - you remove the manifold and the EGR pipe with it.

However, under replacing the manifolds, it just says to remove the EGR pipe and clamp (yes, it does say clamp ) and put them on the new manifold. They don't mention any special tools, so you should be able to remove it with either a screwdriver, pliers, wrench, or some common item. I wish I could see one; I could probably tell you how to do it. Mad Mic is coming over tomorrow; maybe he remembers from when he pulled his EGR stuff off.

So, I somehow have to get that clamp off, right? I still have to take the star bolts out of the connection on the intake, right? Then get on bended

The way I did it, I just lightly bent the pipe out of the way when removing the cover. It only needed about an inch or so of clearance, IIRC. I never touched the bolts on the intake until I replaced the intake manifold.

Wish I could help more.
[RICHR]

 

[unleadedbrew]

Wish I could help more.
[RICHR][/QUOTE]
You've been a big help, as always, Rich. It's just nice to know that I'm not the only one this has been a pain to. I keep reading about you guys changing out covers all the time and no one ever mentions it being a problem. I guess that I was just hoping for a quick fix, but I should know better when dealing with 'fantastic plastic'.

Thanks again,
Gordon

 

[unleadedbrew]

OK, guys......Got the old clamp off *whew* and I guess the EGR pipe is made that way just for bending. Replaced it with a hose clamp as you have, Rich. Got the covers on and looking good.

Thanks for everything,
Gordon

 

[rrubel]

Excellent!

Took a look at Mad-Mic's today; his (87) is completely different. Both ends of the pipe had the 2-bolt flange.

So how did you finally get that clamp off?

[RICHR]

 

[unleadedbrew]

Excellent!

Took a look at Mad-Mic's today; his (87) is completely different. Both ends of the pipe had the 2-bolt flange.

So how did you finally get that clamp off?

[RICHR]

Jackhammer!!

No, but I did have to use a screwdriver wedged in it and a hammer to drive it over the flanges. Must have been the same design engineers that worked on the C6 license plate holder.