V8 Valve Covers

[Shazam]

Hi guys. I'm thinking of dressing up the old AMC 304 and have a couple questions:

How easy is it to change valve covers and gaskets? There shouldn't be a lot of oil in there right...no need to drain first? Can a moron like me do it at home?

Pretty sure I'll go with chrome...any need for the covers with breathers? My current ones do not have them.

Thanks for any opinions or experiences.

 

[Buuushman]

Piece of cake man- the only oil is residual, so no draining, take em' off, clean the mating surfaces, install with new gaskets. If your old ones had no breather, the new ones don't need it either.

Bush

 

[mylittlecj5]

Make sure to wax up that chrome. My chrome covers (PO installed) are flaking badly due to the heat of the engine and look like c&@p.
I will be going with aluminum covers on the new engine.

 

[CJ]

The best - albeit very expensive covers are from Bulltear http://www.bulltear.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=227 ..., they will not be producing them much longer.... So I picked up a set.

 

[derf]

Be careful when you put the new ones on. Don't over torque the covers. It's very easy to bend the sheet metal and screw up the gasket if you torque them too much. My book says 50 inch pounds. That's just a hair over 4 foot pounds.

When I put valve covers on my AMC V8s, I use a nut driver (like a screw driver but with a socket on the end) and get them just snug.

 

[mylittlecj5]

The best - albeit very expensive covers are from Bulltear osCommerce ..., they will not be producing them much longer.... So I picked up a set.

Boy you ain't kidding expensive! I think I'll wait till they get discontinued, then get the last set at a clearance price! That will be the only way I could afford them!

 

[CJ]

Mike - you did not ask the questiion,,,, Shazam

 

[Mattduran]

Hi. Chrome ones look good. But are also good at leaking. At least the cheap ones. I spent some good money on mine. But doesn't leak and looks good. Hotjeepparts.com has a good variety of them.