After Market Valve Covers

[demonicdragon]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Jeep-CJ-258-4-2L-Aluminum-Valve-Cover-Kit_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247QQcategoryZ33627QQihZ001QQitemZ110302122701QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V. hah. now i found one. well hopefully its for the right years..blah..

[spfldbom]

Duh.  Posted right underneath this in regards to the very thing.  O'reilly has one for $45, steel, chrome plated.  Dunno if it's any good, but it's steel.

[Jurjen]

The one listed is a Transdapt TRA-9339.
If you go to the Transdapt site (www.tdperformance.com) and search for this product, you will see in the info that it is not for engines with the plastic valve cover, so suited for 1980 only.

[eaglecaps]

I got my new aluminum valve cover today from Collins Brothers!!  I cant wait to quit spending money on oil!! Gonna tackle the project sunday since it's my only day off from both jobs....  I've read every post and instructions on this job and can probably do it in my sleep...lol.. Wish me luck. Thanks again for this website..it ROCKS!!!!

[eaglecaps]

oil leak GONE! thanks to everyone for hints and suggestions in this forum!

[Jurjen]

Good news, egg in your face.

[IowaEagle]

We aim to please.  Just doing our part to reduce ground and water pollution.

[82wagon]

I hope this isnt a re-post but I have kinda a dumb question reguarding the aftermarket valvecover. I just installed one on my '82 which I got from 4WD.com.

The plastic one wasnt very old but I decided I would spring for the cast aluminum one to be done with it. I took my time and over the course of about three days got it switched out, the engine all cleaned up and the oil changed out.

Now it leaks really bad! I got oil now dripping from the rear bumper! Man what a mess!

I made sure all the surfaces were squeaky clean before I installed the cover by following the instructions in Eaglepedia....

My theory is I think the Allen head screws sent with the kit are too long and bottom out.

Has anyone else used one of these covers before?

Thanks in advance.

Ken

[Jurjen]

Did you buy the one with the 258 or 4.2 L lettering (Omix-Ada)?
Many of us use this type.
Did you do  the drilling and tapping on the drivers side of the valve cover?
Were you able to get the rear bolt in (under the wiper motor)?
Did it come with the cork gasket?
Did you use sealant on both sides?

[82wagon]

Yes I got the Omix-Ada cast one that says 258 on it.

I did get the rear bolt in and tapped the drivers side holes with a bottom tap. The holes were there already I just had to tap them. All the others were tapped already either by the factory or the previous owner. I did run the tap down each to make sure they were clean.

It did come with the cork gasket and I did put sealant on both sides letting it cure good before running the engine.

I am always very careful to try to do things right but must have goofed somewhere. I'll have to pull it back apart in a few days when I can get back to it.

Thank you for the help!

Ken

[Jurjen]

The bolts on the driver's side probably bottomed out.
You need to drill the driver's side holes a bit deeper (1/8" to 3/16") and tap it again.
Not to deep or you will hit a coolant channel.
When you are lucky, you can get the cork seal off in one piece and redo everything.
After 100 mls and 1000 mls you will have to re-torque the bolts (you will find that the bolts become loose).

[Mavericke]

Keep us updated on this project, I'm really curious to know what went wrong.

Just as a side question... if I build a stroker... the engine wouldn't be a 4.2 anymore... so that cover wouldn't make sense... so should I go with a 258 cover? or do they have covers with no writing? or do you think I could find one that says 4.6?

[IowaEagle]

I think you will need to use the 4.0 cover Chas.

[Mavericke]

Oh ok, so I'd be using the 4.0 block AND head for the stroker... so I would still be using the same valve cover. So just the guts from the 4.2. Gotcha.

Good to know before I bought two valve covers for the Eagles... just need one.

So for the 4.0 though, I bet since its a bit more common... I bet I could find a really nice polished aluminum or chrome cover with no writing... then I could take it in and have it engraved... I bet I could even come up something cooler than that with an AMC logo on it in color that said 4.6 Stroker or something... hmmmm...

[vangremlin]

I just installed one on my '82 which I got from 4WD.com.

Has anyone else used one of these covers before?

Thanks in advance.

Ken

I got my valve cover from 4WD.com, it says 258 on it, and it works great - no leaks at all.  If only I could say the same about my rear main seal lol.