Valve cover gaskets

[packman]

I got an 86 CV with the 5.0L and EFI and I need to replace the passenger side valve cover gasket next weekend. It leaks pretty good; at least enough to visibly see smoke after the car is shut off. The problem that I foresee is getting the heater water supply and return tube out of the way so I can get at the valve cover bolts. Can I do this without taking the upper plenum off? I hope this doesn't turn into a fiascle. I don't have the tools that can fit in that space so I will have to break into my father's toolbox to get at his wrenches (I know he has odd shaped tools for jobs like this). Anyways, how did you guys replace the gasket on these engines? Thanks in advance for any light you can shed on this.
Packman

[mrltd]

Shouldn't have to take the heater pipe off. Upper intake yes. I suggest ford metal gaskets or the aftermarket equivalent. You will not have to replce them again.

[Blaze86Vic]

You can. Taking it off can be a bitch though. I had to take it off to get mine off as well, no matter how much pushing and forcing I did. (Maybe that's because of my roller rockers) There is one stud that is on the lower intake, it has a nut holding down the tubes. Then at the front of the engine there is the large screw fitting that goes into the lower intake you can take that off and push it to the side to get the valve cover off. The attached pic is what I am talking about, looks like fun huh? No more advice on that, because it's just gonna be a bitch.

Use the reusable valve cover gaskets from ford if you can. Make sure to straiten out any deformation of the valve cover sealing surface cause by over torquing the cover bolts. If you want lay a light bead of RTV, but if the cover is strait and the head surface clean it's not needed. I have used the ones from the factory for 100,000 miles not one drop from them, and taken the things and reused them three times now.

[91LTDProject]

I had a bit of a hard time getting the bolt furthest back on the left valve cover. I did have a broken wrist in a cast though so that kinda screwed things up. I repaced mine with cork gaskets in October 05 and they were leaking less than a year later, so definatly go with a metal core gasket. The upper does have to come off, not that bg a deal, just watch what vacuum lines you disconnect and note where they go again. Wiring connectors are straight foreward, only clip in one place. The throttle cable bracket that bolts to the egr spacer can be a pain sometimes, but no biggies, just make sure you dont get too much dirt or old much gasket material into the valve spring/rocker area. Its always good to clean/paint up the valve covers while you have them off.

[packman]

Thanks for the heads up!!! I got rubber valve cover gaskets and upper to lower intake gasket as well a few years back after I first bought the car. I meant to replace them but I was discouraged by all of the plumbing. This looks like a real project, but I will have to learn sometime right? Thanks for pics Blaze. I know I got a vacuum leak because there is this custard looking gunk in the oil fill tube (I will probably clean this gunk out of the valve cover) and the car surges into a stall when it is warmer outside. Thanks again.
Packman

[turbo2256b]

Have had very good luck with the rubber gaskets. Dont care for the cork ones much.

[gadget73]

Upper intake is easy to remove. Once its off, the valve cover is easy to get out, even with the water plumbing in place.