Ok here we go, I need to keep this engine going before I make the 3800 SC swap......how can I get to the back valve cover gasket? I tried rocking the engine back but that does not give me any room. The rear deck lid is off, i can get to all the screws and I have the front cover in the steam washer right now. So how can I get enough room to slide the cover off and clean and replace the gasket??? ooops sorry the engine is the 2.8

Do you have the upper and middle intake off?

[This message has been edited by Indiana_resto_guy (edited 01-18-2007).]

No, I was told it could be done without, sooooo here I am. The rear one came off real good then I realized I have no room to get the forward cover off. I was hoping I didn't have to take off the whole upper and middle intake.

I`m not real keen on that set-up either, just a note to get the good silicone (blue) gaskets by felpro, and to replace the distributor o-ring while you have it that far--then you won`t have to fool with it for a long time...

Good, I got the felpro blue gaskets, put the rear on with a little RTV, I did not want to put them back on dry. Also I heard something about the o-ring as well, since I'm there I'll pick one of those up as well. I still really can't tell if it's the front valve gasket cover or not but it has that side of the engine soaked in oil. also a couple of the cavities on the rear of the engine had a couple oil puddles. I know I could see fresh oil on the edge of the valve cover on the rear when I was under the car. I'm thinking it was working it's way along the lip the dripping off one end. Who knows on the front valve cover but I did wipe my had and got some good wet oil from the bottom.

quote Originally posted by 87SEV6Reborn05: No, I was told it could be done without, sooooo here I am. The rear one came off real good then I realized I have no room to get the forward cover off. I was hoping I didn't have to take off the whole upper and middle intake.

Never tried it but I also heard it can be done. Probably would take as much effort as removing the upper and intermediate intakes. The biggest problem would be to get the cover and gasket on without the gasket catching on something and making a bigger leak.......Paul

Watch out for the joint where the lower intake meets the head. If its off a bit the surfaces won't be flat and can leak oil. Some RTV will fill the low spot. Also watch for the intake gasket sticking up above the joint there. The two problems together will form a nice little tent that the new gasket might not fill.

Did you use the rtv on the bottom part of the gasket or the top to kind of hold it in place, its not a real good to mix the 2 toghther--ends up with more leaks, the blue silicone gaskets are more than enough to do the job. I would hate for you to have to pull the upper part of the engine off again. Any chance of catching it now? There really isn`t alot of oil that gets pushed up there--when the engine is running ,pop off the oil fill hole in the vavle cover, you`ll see what I mean. If you have oil in the lower intake cavitys --more then likely --it`s the distributor o-ring causing it. I think auto-zones # is 70800 felpro, best to double check as they always change them. I took off an oil pan , to paint and install on another build last night, theres a fun job, its not hard, but alot of crap in the way, you would think they could have worked around a couple areas under there so you dont have to jerk the front engine bracket and starter off to clear a 1/16th of an inch to reach them...

The good news, I didn't have to take the any of the intake off to do that but i did break a couple of those damn vaccuum hoses try to unplug them. Bad news, I aready have the rear on, and yes I did use a little on both sides of the gasket, wasn't sure what side I needed it on if I used it, should have just put it on the cover/ gasket side i guess. Well, the oil is actually pooling in the cavities on the transmission, darn now I have to go look at it to make sure....... I'll look before I leave the car at the airport. I have to be in Chicago a couple days before I can do any more work or look at it again.

quote Originally posted by 87SEV6Reborn05: Well, the oil is actually pooling in the cavities on the transmission,

Thats one of the places it lands when the distributor 0-ring needs replaced. Just make sure to mark the distributor when you pull it.... Chicago--its cold as hell up there--take a extra couple of coats/hats. Florida sounds like a good choice this time of year ...lol...

Yeah, I'm hoping for the o-ring myself atleast the haevy leaking. IT isn't that bad compared to what we had in Kansas City the past week. I'll let ya know what I find out.

Ok, I haven't actually gotten back under teh Fiero yet because of the snow and the cold weather. I did happen to pull up the car and look in the snow for oil drops. a very very faint spot nothing like what I had seen before I changed the rear valve cover gasket and tighten up the front valve cover. So this didn't tell me a whole lot but I did feel some what relieved that I might not have to get at that gasket. I'll pull it into the shop tomorrow and let it sit all ay and see what I find under it then.