OMG... what a pain.. - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

Ccmano · 03-24-2009

.... to remove the valve covers with the engine in the car! I finished the port matching for the install of my ported plenum and injector housings which turned out not to be as bad a job as I expected. Although I did manage to break a vacume line and a secondary throttle port lever in the process. The plenum and IH's are freshly painted so I wanted to repaint the cam covers to match while I was at it.

The passenger side is relatively straight foreward with only the side cover on the A/C housing haveing to be removed to access to the rear bolts on the cam cover.

The driver side is a whole other story. The power steering pump and resovour have to be moved foreward to access the front three bolts on the cam cover. Whoever designed the pump mounting bracket should be shot. What Reub Goldberg deal. The A/C compressor and lines have the be moved or you can't get the cover off... not too bad. To access the rear bolts on the cam cover you have to unbolt the brake booster completely and move it foreward. This is where it really gets fun. To access the 4 nuts that hold the booster to the firewall I had to remove the drivers seat (just so I could get in there to see what I was doing and then lay in there upside down and backwards) next drop the trim panel and metal panels under the dash. After doing that I found I could just barely get at 3 of the 4 nuts with various extentions and flex joints. The 4th nut required unbolting the steering column and letting it drop a couple inches. I'm still not sure how I'm going to get those 4 nuts back in there and started on the threads. Then to add insult to injury the front center cam cover bolt snapped off when I was removing it. Now I have to drill that out.

Man! What a pain for something so simple!

Sorry just had to vent...

H

tomtom72 · 03-24-2009

Jez that is a PIA. talk about stuff going south. You have my empathy!

Please tell me you got lucky with the cam cover bolt that snapped....it left enough to get on w/a vise grip after the cover is off???

I hate it when that kind of stuff happens, it destroys the whole "good mood" thing that ya get from doing something on the beast.

Good luck with the broken bolt Hans!

Tom

fwiw, I look at my stained covers and think "what if I just pull'em & paint'em"....then I remember all the posts I've seen like this and think "live with it"...

jonszr1 · 03-24-2009

it my beief that some of the folk that design things get their jollies out of making them impossible to work on .

vettn71 · 03-24-2009

You have my sincerest sympathy. Been there - done that. This is about the time where tools go flying and imbed themselves into the garage wall. My wife calls it the "wall of shame". I'm kind of proudof it - really unique.

Jim

LGAFF · 03-24-2009

This is good practice for when the heater core has to be replaced!

03-24-2009

The job really is not that difficult. It's just a matter of having the right extensions and knowing where to route the tool to get to the nuts. After doing several, I've gotten it down to under 30 minutes for getting the booster out. But yes it is tight in the foot well, and a little dark. But it's not that bad.

The other option is to remove the motor. Don't have to remove the booster to do that.

rhipsher · 03-24-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by LGAFF

This is good practice for when the heater core has to be replaced!

Hahaha! If you live in Texas that will never be a problem. But you will die without the A/C.

-=Jeff=- · 03-24-2009

yeah removal is fun.. I just am waiting for the reinstall fun now

GOLDCYLON · 03-24-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeffvette

I've gotten it down to under 30 minutes for getting the booster out. But yes it is tight in the foot well, and a little dark. But it's not that bad.

All Hail Jeffvette

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeffvette

The other option is to remove the motor. Don't have to remove the booster to do that.

This procedure will take Jeff another 35 mins.... Pick your poison

bobbyhi · 03-24-2009

"But yes it is tight in the foot well, and a little dark. But it's not that bad."

Just wait until your eye sight goes south!!!!

03-24-2009	#1
Ccmano Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Sparks, NV Posts: 2,852	OMG... what a pain.. .... to remove the valve covers with the engine in the car! I finished the port matching for the install of my ported plenum and injector housings which turned out not to be as bad a job as I expected. Although I did manage to break a vacume line and a secondary throttle port lever in the process. The plenum and IH's are freshly painted so I wanted to repaint the cam covers to match while I was at it. The passenger side is relatively straight foreward with only the side cover on the A/C housing haveing to be removed to access to the rear bolts on the cam cover. The driver side is a whole other story. The power steering pump and resovour have to be moved foreward to access the front three bolts on the cam cover. Whoever designed the pump mounting bracket should be shot. What Reub Goldberg deal. The A/C compressor and lines have the be moved or you can't get the cover off... not too bad. To access the rear bolts on the cam cover you have to unbolt the brake booster completely and move it foreward. This is where it really gets fun. To access the 4 nuts that hold the booster to the firewall I had to remove the drivers seat (just so I could get in there to see what I was doing and then lay in there upside down and backwards) next drop the trim panel and metal panels under the dash. After doing that I found I could just barely get at 3 of the 4 nuts with various extentions and flex joints. The 4th nut required unbolting the steering column and letting it drop a couple inches. I'm still not sure how I'm going to get those 4 nuts back in there and started on the threads. Then to add insult to injury the front center cam cover bolt snapped off when I was removing it. Now I have to drill that out. Man! What a pain for something so simple! Sorry just had to vent... H __________________ 90'ZR-1 #1461 Red/Black Ported Intake, Degreed Cams, OBX Headers & Exhaust, Fidanza FW, Secondary Delete, Custom tune, C6 GS Wheels. Sold 08 C6 Z51 Crystal Red Metallic Sold Vararam Intake, Tune, Sold 05 C6 Z51 Red/Black Sold 90'ZR-1 #1723 Black/Gray Sold but not forgotten 91' Z51 L98 White Vert. My First, you always remember your first. Sold.

03-24-2009	#2
tomtom72 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Jacksonville, FL USA Posts: 4,645	Re: OMG... what a pain.. Jez that is a PIA. talk about stuff going south. You have my empathy! Please tell me you got lucky with the cam cover bolt that snapped....it left enough to get on w/a vise grip after the cover is off??? I hate it when that kind of stuff happens, it destroys the whole "good mood" thing that ya get from doing something on the beast. Good luck with the broken bolt Hans! Tom fwiw, I look at my stained covers and think "what if I just pull'em & paint'em"....then I remember all the posts I've seen like this and think "live with it"... __________________ 1990 ZR-1, Black/grey, #2233, stock. ZR-1 Net Reg Founding Member #316 & NCM member

03-24-2009	#3
jonszr1 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: lone pine and mammoth lakes Posts: 1,407	Re: OMG... what a pain.. it my beief that some of the folk that design things get their jollies out of making them impossible to work on .

03-24-2009	#4
vettn71 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Colleyville, TX Posts: 272	Re: OMG... what a pain.. You have my sincerest sympathy. Been there - done that. This is about the time where tools go flying and imbed themselves into the garage wall. My wife calls it the "wall of shame". I'm kind of proudof it - really unique. Jim

03-24-2009	#5
LGAFF Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Crystal Lake, IL Posts: 7,194	Re: OMG... what a pain.. This is good practice for when the heater core has to be replaced! __________________ LGAFF 90 #966-150K miles-sold 92 #234-sold 1987 Callaway TT #17 1991 ZR-1 #1359

03-24-2009	#6
Jeffvette Guest Posts: n/a	Re: OMG... what a pain.. The job really is not that difficult. It's just a matter of having the right extensions and knowing where to route the tool to get to the nuts. After doing several, I've gotten it down to under 30 minutes for getting the booster out. But yes it is tight in the foot well, and a little dark. But it's not that bad. The other option is to remove the motor. Don't have to remove the booster to do that.

03-24-2009	#8
-=Jeff=- Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bartlett, IL Posts: 7,169	Re: OMG... what a pain.. yeah removal is fun.. I just am waiting for the reinstall fun now __________________ 1990 Corvette ZR-1 #1051 Watson Headers (2" Primary) - Flowmaster Cats - Borla Catback Late Model IH - Plenum Coilovers - 4.10s Custom Interior NCM Lifetime Member #978

03-24-2009	#10
bobbyhi Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mendota Heights, MN. 55120 Posts: 984	Re: OMG... what a pain.. "But yes it is tight in the foot well, and a little dark. But it's not that bad." Just wait until your eye sight goes south!!!! __________________ Bob Anderson 1990 #2405 White/Gray Haibeck chip,4:09 gears,Power Effects Exhaust,5 spoke chrome,C5 brakes,49th Street rockers,K&N,Hurst,Headers,Upper & lower ported Minnesota State Director Founding Member #19