How to Change the Valve Cover Gaskets on a 440 Engine
- 1). Label and remove the spark plug wires from the spark plugs. Because the spark plug wires drape over the valve covers from the distributor, each spark plug wire must be removed from its spark plug. Wrap a piece of masking tape around each wire, then write a number on each piece of tape with a marker. The number should correspond to a specific spark plug. For example, label the spark plug at the front of the driver's side of the engine "1." The next wire can be labeled "2," and so on. Pull the spark plug wires off the spark plugs after labeling them.
- 2). Remove the valve cover's retaining bolts with a wrench. There are four retaining bolts at the bottom of the valve cover, and two bolts at the top of the valve cover.
- 3). Pull the valve cover off the cylinder head. If the valve cover will not pull away, lightly tap one side of the cover with a rubber mallet to dislodge it.
- 4). Pull the old valve cover gasket off the inner lip of the valve cover, then remove any gasket debris from the valve cover and from the edges of the cylinder head with a gasket scraper.
- 5). Apply a bead of gasket sealer onto the entire surface of one side of the new gasket, then press the coated side of the gasket onto the inner lip of the valve cover. Coat the entire surface of the opposite side of the gasket with the sealer, then lower the valve cover onto the cylinder head.
- 6). Install and tighten each of the valve cover's six retaining bolts with a wrench.
- 7). Plug the spark plug wires onto their respective spark plugs, then remove the masking tape from the spark plug wires.