Here's a few pics of the chips on the head and one pic of where it appears to be seeping through. I don't know if it was leaking this bad before or not, it might well have been. The rest of the cover is sealed up pretty good, I'm thinking about just putting some black RTV on the outside where it's leaking and see how that holds up.

The chips are small but they are the only shiny sections where the head meets the cover.

 

like I said, i took a plastic spackle knife and drove it in under the cover in the area of the passenger's side front by the hoist hook thingy to break the seal.2 knifes rammed in there and you could probably wedge a good size straight edge screwdriver in between them. I wouldn't pry against the head anymore though...it's only aluminum. doubt you did any hard there though.

 

I'm definitely not going to pry anymore. I'm going to try to get it done tomorrow I guess with the help a pretty savvy friend. I bought some black RTV, if I don't change the half moons should I dab some of that on them?

 

sounds like a plan

 

nice, thanks 92, it's finally warming up here in Mass, I'm excited to see your truck up and running again.

 

sounds like you just need to use your man hands, lol. i'd go out and get yourself a rubber mallet. give it a good whack and it should unseat. a rubber mallet is a good thing to have around anyways.

 

It's not up and running, but I am at working on it again. thanks all the same.

 

it will be soon on account of the good weather was my point.

 

gotcha.............

 

Are you kidding?!?!?!
GET A SLEDGE HAMMER AND SMASH THAT F*&%ER OFF!!!!

Just kidding (never smash Aluminium with hammers), did you try prying it with a screw driver while your friend hits it with the mallet?

 

we didn't take the grommets out the other day so I think that was the problem, Tomorrow I'm going to try hitting it with a rubber mallet after I get the grommets out and I picked up a couple of razor blades too. I won't be doing any more prying.

 

Or, use a blow torch to soften up those grommets- they're the only thing holding it in place.

 

Yeah, I know I don't know why I didn't remember that the other day. That's a major fail on my part. It'll be fixed tomorrow for sure. I bet when I get those grommets out and give it a little tap with a rubber mallet it'll pop right off.

 

Take a big flathead screwdriver and tap it inbetween the valve cover and the head with a small hammer. I've never had any trouble.

 

Got the new gasket on today and sealed up nice with some black RTV. Also, my timing chain guides are intact and everything looks nice and clean under there. I'm pumped. This truck was definitely taken care of. Now, all I have to do is bleed my brakes tomorrow and then drive to California next month. I think it will make it.

The valve cover came off no problem after I unscrewed the grommets.

 

Those stupid grommets are stronger then you think

 

Well, it looks like the stock ones actually thread on there, as opposed to the Fel-Pro ones I bought which just slide right on. Unless, they aren't supposed to be threaded and they just fused to the bolts over time?

 

bingo.

 

You set the valves while you were in there right?

Just a side note about your drive. Last year a friend of mine drove his '95 4runner (22re) from Calgary to San Francisco on a blown clutch and still 6 months later. He says as long as he doesn't rev it in 4th it's all good.

Toyota's always get you where you going.

 

I love how there's a 2 page thread on valve cover removal that DOESN'T get moved to "Newbie Tech.", but all my threads do......Wow....