After Market Valve Covers

[IowaEagle]

Looks good.  Who care what the place looks like as long as they have the parts you need.  Did you share my suggestion with them about adding the AMC Eagle to their list?

[Jurjen]

I got there catalog (you can see it on the kitchen table), I will go through it to see what fits the Eagle, and then mail it to him.
He is doing a lot of work on drive trains for CJ's for people who really take them off road.
It is good for me to have an additional AMC/Jeep expert near (there is one right here in Buitenpost, where I live, working on Chrysler/Jeep mainly Cherokee).

[Jurjen]

@eddie, which hole (1st or 2nd) did you use to the PCV? Did you use the the rubber on the car or one of the new grommets?

[bigdog56e]

 Jurjen,
            I used the front hole as oil fill, 2nd hole as pcv, and the rear hole for the crankcase breather. used all the hardware they provided, works great.
                                                                                                 Eddie

[IowaEagle]

Yes, that is how it goes.

[Jurjen]

Ok, I did the valve cover upgrade today.
Yesterday evening I glued the cork gasket on the cover with sealant.
Put it on a flat surface and put some bricks on for weight. Left it to dry overnight.
This morning I first removed the old valve cover.

1. I removed air filter, carburettor and a bunch of vacuum hoses.
2. I removed the wipermotor, this is really easy, four plate screws and a clip (good tip from the nest).
3. Hung up the wiring loom with a piece wire on the underhood courtesy light.
4. Removed the bolts from the cover and took it off.

The bolt holes on passenger side had 1/4" heliciols and the bolts supplied were 5/16", so I used 1/4" ones with a washer.
The bolt holes front and back were 1/4", same as bolts supplied with the cover.
On the drive side were only two holes that had to be tapped.
I drilled them a little deeper to 1/2" deep (the bolts supplied need a hole a least 5/16" deep thread) and than threaded the hole with a machine tap. Since the head is cast iron, it cuts like butter. I used the family vacuum cleaner to remove the metal shavings.
It put a thin coat of sealant on the cilinderhead. If you have AC, it needs a little lifting of the AC hose to get it on.
It put the bolts in and did not tighten them right away. The bolt near the firewall is a problem to get in. I succeeded on the second try. I used an angle grinder to make the bolt pointed and used a small file to cut the thread a little deeper.
This is and old trick to make self centering bolts. It went straight in. Than I tightened the rest.
The grommet supplied for the PCV was to big. I increased the diameter of the PCV-valve with a piece of garden hose and sealed it on with heat shrink hose for a nice tight fit. Put everything back on. and make a test drive. Now it is oil tight.
In total it took me about 4 hours, incl two coffee breaks (we Dutchmen drink a lot of coffee).

[IowaEagle]

The bolt near the firewall is a problem to get in. I succeeded on the second try. I used an angle grinder to make the bolt pointed and used a small file to cut the thread a little deeper.  This is and old trick to make self centering bolts. It went straight in.

Excellent Tip!!!!!!!!!!!

In total it took me about 4 hours, incl two coffee breaks (we Dutchmen drink a lot of coffee).

So that explains my coffee consumption.   

[Jurjen]

The coffee we drink is a little stronger than yours normally is.
It is more like the Starbucks Dark Roast coffee, you should try that.

Back on topic. After about 100 mls I opened the hood and it is still oil tight. No puddle under the car anymore.
I was amazed to find that almost all bolts were lose. So I tightened them again and will check again later.
I think the cork gasket must have settled in.

[IowaEagle]

Yes, rechecking fasteners is a good idea.  Especially where gaskets are involved.

[bigdog56e]

  I didn't remove the wiper motor to put my cover on, about two hours, including tapping the bolt holes. The entire job was not that difficult. I did have to grind some on the a/c belt adjuster for clearance around the cover.
                                                                    Eddie

[bigdog56e]

JJ,
     Do you suppose someone had tried put a different cover on it before, hence the mismatched bolts, or possible a screwup by a technician at a dealership? My '82 had all holes drilled on sides for 5/16", and 1/4" front and rear, all I had to do was tap for the side bolts. The tall cover and thick gasket maybe for clearance for folks using maybe roller rockers, or higher lift cams, just my thought.
                                                                                 Eddie

[Jurjen]

JJ, my bolt pattern was exactly the same. The plastic valve cover used the 1/4" passenger side holes, so I used 1/4" bolts with a washer. Driverside wasn't tapped, and I drilled them a little deeper. They will hold the 5/16" thread without a problem.
There is no thread in them because on the driverside clamp plates on the studs were used.
I removed the washer motor to reach the bolt near the firewall.
This is only four plate screws and a clip (removed in 2 minutes) and will give you a lot of work space.

[IowaEagle]

Yes, different ways and cover styles to try to afix the cover were used.  Mine did not have the two center fasteners.  It was tapped for screws on the front, rear and passenger side and only held on by the glue on the driver's side.  The holes on the driver's side were for the locating pins.  Yet, your top fastened cover and my side fastened cover are both found in 1982 model cars.  IIRC your SX/4 is later production than mine.  Remember all of the subtle differnces we found?  The recall cover where side affixed on both sides and recall notice instructions had the dealership installing helicoils as needed.

[bigdog56e]

JJ,
    My original plastic cover had "nubbins" on it to fit in the holes, no gasket, just silicone. Had two studs made on the rocker bridges and 1/4" bolt front and rear, all the holes were drilled, but unthreaded.
                                                                           Eddie

[Jurjen]

And my 1983 had no rocker bridges, but used the three bolts on passenger side.