Hey All,

I'm new to the forum but not new to these trucks. Just picked up an 88 4runner (22re, 5 spd, no sr5) in decent shape but needing a new timing chain. (Just starting to make that noise...)

So I get it all apart down to the timing cover and valve cover...and that valve cover is seriously stuck!

I've been able to get it to budge a little with a big flathead under the front corners but I obviously don't want to go crazy on it with this.

I've tapped on it with a hammer and block of wood to no avail either.

Any tips??



Thanks in advance for any advice!!

-Andy

 

rubber mallet, be careful with the screwdriver if you have something wider and not as sharp use that. you also run a razor blade through the gap to cut the gasket.

 

..ooops hit reply instead of new thread...

 

search, its really easy to put in a stereo you just need the brackets. the stock radio has them. just switch them over

 

DUDE, Dont use a screwdriver period.
Get a rubber mallet...And are you sure you got all the bolts out of it...

 

Ed - I have another thread 'bout the stereo

 

Yeah there's only 4 bolts. They're out. I used a screwdriver a little bit but I don't wanna do any damage so no more of that!

I've had covers be a hassle before but never this bad. Guess I'll just smack the crap out of it and see what happens. I'm considering bolting a piece of wire to it and trying to pry it off with a long 2x4 or something.

 

did you take off the gromets??
also, try to take out the halfmoon shaped seal inthe front

 

Before you go destroying your valve cover....

You need to remove the grommets under the nuts (not bolts). Since they are made of rubber, and 99.9% of people overtighten them, they conform to the threads of the studs. So you will need to get a pair of pliers and spin them off, since they have likely hardened. Once you do that, the valve cover will pop off with very little effort.

If you keep trying to pry on the valve cover, its going to break and you are deforming the head in the process.

 

x10 Same thing with mine. Had to unscrew the grommets

 

Good call! I'm going to try that first. Thanks for the replies

 

Did it work?

 

and a screwdriver isn't necessarily a bad thing, just make sure you're not marring the gasket surface or deforming the valve cover. Sometimes you will have to pry the cover loose, just don't pry too hard at one point- move around the cover, like you'd move around with lug bolts... opposite ends, etc. When I've had to do it, I've found using an electricians' type screw driver (thin shank) works well 'cause you can see the shank bending before it puts too much pressure on the cover...
... and tapping on the cover while you're prying may help.

But that's my opinion.

 

The grommets tip was money. With those off there was basically no resistance and it popped right off. Thanks!!

 

How about some pictures of these grommets? I am changing my valve cover gaskets sometime this spring/summer.