Side tappet cover

[paulhood]

hi im back!  next question   is there a trick to removing the side tappet cover from the car?
its off the engine, dipstick tube removed but i cant find a way to reove it from the engine bay
its got come out as the gasket is us
regards Paul

[Phil Nottingham]

There are 4 central fixings - special 1/2AF nuts on studs.  The cover gasket often sticks to the block tapping it sharply will break the seal. Be careful as it is easily distorted and it will then leak. Stick the new gasket on with grease only - do not use any sealant as the will make the cover very difficult to remove later on

[paulhood]

hi so the side tappet cover is off the engine , but i cannot find a way to remove it from beneath the exhaust manifold/downpipe 
should i remove p steering reservoir or the exhaust manifold?
regards Paul

[Phil Nottingham]

I would advise against removing the manifold if it not blowing as the down pipe would need detaching and at least one the studs is likely to shear I have never had to remove the power steering reservoir either but unbolting it and moving it aside may give a little extra room as would detaching the whole oil filter housing from the block - 2 x 3/8" AF bolts and not tipping it so as to lose no oil.  

The old gasket should easily scrape off in situ anyway  unless sealant has been used

[MK IA Norway Viking]

Good afternoon - I have been working on these engines adjusting tappet clearance and find there is no need to remove the cover. In all the years I've worked on the tappet clearance it's been with the cover dismounted and resting against the exhause downpipe.

Do not see any point in taking it away unless there is a very good reason for it - the space in the engine bay will not provide enough room to juggle it out, and to which end ? 

I do like Phil suggests, keeping it in the engine bay and - if I have to scrape off the old gasket - service it there. 

The exhaust pipe and manifold is best left alone - if you must remove the cover, better take off the front grille and radiator to slide it out forwards.

Best wishes for your project.

[Phil Nottingham]

Removing the rad expansion tank is probably easier if the grill is still bolted to the bottom brackets with rusted nuts!  I always remove the bolts and insert then upside down so it just lifts out after the  2 ones have been undone. I slip a thin PVC tube over the threads to avoid rattles

[paulhood]

hi all , problem solved   undo the p steering reservoir and the cover will wriggle out!  had to get i to derust and remove the majority of the old gasket from the cover. the issue with removing is the oil filler neck which comes off it.  i think this was probably the original gasket
this is a 44000 mile engine and the gasket had welded itself to the cover in places and the block in others hence the need to remove the quite rusty tappet cover
once again thanks for your input 
regards Paul

[djm16]

I dread doing the exhaust tappets for exactly that reason. It is really hard to remove the cover without scratching it on the manifold and downpipe, and it is a bit of a monkey puzzle to find exactly the right angle it slides out at.

In addition, because I have a AC system, it is even more complex. I have to slacken off the AC compressor first, remove the AC drive belt, and then swing the compressor as far away as I can.

Yes, I usually do remove the exhaust manifold too! It is a real PITA.

[paulhood]

thanks to all for your replies and taking the time to post them
regards Paul

[MK IA Norway Viking]

... not to mention that the exhaust tappets have to be done while the engine is hot. Ouch, hands getting burnt !

[djm16]

I don't think so. The inlet tappets are traditionally done hot as the pushrods and head have a different thermal expansion coefficient to the cast iron of the block.

[Phil Nottingham]

The exhaust tappets can be done hot or cold but there is no reason at all why they should be done hot risking severe burns on the exhaust and rushing the job.  The inlets must be done hot (not warm)  and redone after 500 miles after retorquing the head i it has been removed