88-92 Supra MKIII Owners? THis does NOT look like fun!

Trying to get access to the spark plugs. I have the air inlet tubes off,
have removed the bolts and part of the bracing for the metal part of the
intake. So far, so good. But I can see there's one bolt on the intake I'm
going to need a "Universal Joint" type extension for. Anything else? I
can't SEE the bolt on the other side...how the hell do I get to it?

Also, I have leaking valve cover gaskets, so I want to replace those since
I'm going to have 1/3 of the top of the engine off...any tips, hints or
suggestions?

In other words....HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Hachiroku ????" <Trueno@AE86.gts> wrote in message news:wdzmh.3049$T%3.1606@trndny08...[color=blue]
> Trying to get access to the spark plugs. I have the air inlet tubes off,
> have removed the bolts and part of the bracing for the metal part of the
> intake. So far, so good. But I can see there's one bolt on the intake I'm
> going to need a "Universal Joint" type extension for. Anything else? I
> can't SEE the bolt on the other side...how the hell do I get to it?
>
> Also, I have leaking valve cover gaskets, so I want to replace those since
> I'm going to have 1/3 of the top of the engine off...any tips, hints or
> suggestions?
>
> In other words....HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>[/color]

Might be to late but just leave the throttle body bolts alone and remove both parts at the plenum chamber.
There should be 4 bolts, 2 nuts and a couple brackets.

A shop vac works for sucking all the oil and crud that's around the plugs and BE SURE TO USE lock tight
on all the head cover screws or they will not stay tight.

One other thing I learned the hard way is: make sure the head cover #3 (center piece) has a water tight seal.

Dan

On Sun, 07 Jan 2007 17:50:18 +0000, Danny G. wrote:
[color=blue]
>
> "Hachiroku ????" <Trueno@AE86.gts> wrote in message
> news:wdzmh.3049$T%3.1606@trndny08...[color=green]
>> Trying to get access to the spark plugs. I have the air inlet tubes off,
>> have removed the bolts and part of the bracing for the metal part of the
>> intake. So far, so good. But I can see there's one bolt on the intake
>> I'm going to need a "Universal Joint" type extension for. Anything else?
>> I can't SEE the bolt on the other side...how the hell do I get to it?
>>
>> Also, I have leaking valve cover gaskets, so I want to replace those
>> since I'm going to have 1/3 of the top of the engine off...any tips,
>> hints or suggestions?
>>
>> In other words....HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>>
>>[/color]
> Might be to late but just leave the throttle body bolts alone and remove
> both parts at the plenum chamber. There should be 4 bolts, 2 nuts and a
> couple brackets.[/color]

I took the TB out...seemed easier, all in all...

[color=blue]
>
> A shop vac works for sucking all the oil and crud that's around the plugs
> and BE SURE TO USE lock tight on all the head cover screws or they will
> not stay tight.[/color]

Yeah, I'm going to make up a 'double boiler' using an old mayonnaise jar
so I'm not sucking oil into the vac. I was thinking Lok-Tite or Stainless
bolts.


[color=blue]
>
> One other thing I learned the hard way is: make sure the head cover #3
> (center piece) has a water tight seal.
>
> Dan[/color]


Found this out the first time I washed the engine, with 20 minutes to go
before the shop closed, and it took 35 to start the car...

"Hachiroku ????" <Trueno@AE86.gts> wrote in message news:AwFoh.1744$GL.1102@trndny06...[color=blue]
> On Sun, 07 Jan 2007 17:50:18 +0000, Danny G. wrote:
>[color=green]
>>
>> "Hachiroku ????" <Trueno@AE86.gts> wrote in message
>> news:wdzmh.3049$T%3.1606@trndny08...[color=darkred]
>>> Trying to get access to the spark plugs. I have the air inlet tubes off,
>>> have removed the bolts and part of the bracing for the metal part of the
>>> intake. So far, so good. But I can see there's one bolt on the intake
>>> I'm going to need a "Universal Joint" type extension for. Anything else?
>>> I can't SEE the bolt on the other side...how the hell do I get to it?
>>>
>>> Also, I have leaking valve cover gaskets, so I want to replace those
>>> since I'm going to have 1/3 of the top of the engine off...any tips,
>>> hints or suggestions?
>>>
>>> In other words....HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>>>
>>>[/color]
>> Might be to late but just leave the throttle body bolts alone and remove
>> both parts at the plenum chamber. There should be 4 bolts, 2 nuts and a
>> couple brackets.[/color]
>
> I took the TB out...seemed easier, all in all...
>
>[color=green]
>>
>> A shop vac works for sucking all the oil and crud that's around the plugs
>> and BE SURE TO USE lock tight on all the head cover screws or they will
>> not stay tight.[/color]
>
> Yeah, I'm going to make up a 'double boiler' using an old mayonnaise jar
> so I'm not sucking oil into the vac. I was thinking Lok-Tite or Stainless
> bolts.
>[/color]


A bucket of hot water with a little laundry detergent sucked into the shop-vac
did a good/quick job of cleaning the vac for me. 8)

Every time I have had any oil leak it was from not using loc-tite on those head
cover screws. There only @ 20 inch pounds to rubber so without it they get loose.

Oh ya, except one time wrenching on the heater hose bracket knocked the oil galley
plug its bolted into loose (check those plugs if you have a mystery oil leaking
on the exaust pipe) and it took me forever to figure it out.


[color=blue]
>[color=green]
>>
>> One other thing I learned the hard way is: make sure the head cover #3
>> (center piece) has a water tight seal.
>>
>> Dan[/color]
>
>
> Found this out the first time I washed the engine, with 20 minutes to go
> before the shop closed, and it took 35 to start the car...
>[/color]

I ended up taking mine back apart to suck out the water (lake) trapped
under the center cover for #3&4 because it was still wet after trying to dry it out
with the engine running for 3 hours in the driveway.

That SOB is submersible now though. 8)

BTW: That would also be the only possible abuse related cause for my blown head gasket.
It was the only time it ran out of tune, (ruff) no cooling issues, no other driver, nothing loose,
warped, (caught it early) worn whatsoever. grrrrrrrrrrr.

On Wed, 10 Jan 2007 02:38:35 +0000, Danny G. wrote:
[color=blue]
> Oh ya, except one time wrenching on the heater hose bracket knocked the
> oil galley plug its bolted into loose (check those plugs if you have a
> mystery oil leaking on the exaust pipe) and it took me forever to figure
> it out.[/color]


Please explain further...this sounds about right...

On Wed, 10 Jan 2007 12:13:59 +0000, Danny G. wrote:
[color=blue]
>
> "Hachiroku ????" <Trueno@AE86.gts> wrote in message news:rb%oh.3226$GL.1704@trndny06...[color=green]
>> On Wed, 10 Jan 2007 02:38:35 +0000, Danny G. wrote:
>>[color=darkred]
>>> Oh ya, except one time wrenching on the heater hose bracket knocked the
>>> oil galley plug its bolted into loose (check those plugs if you have a
>>> mystery oil leaking on the exaust pipe) and it took me forever to figure
>>> it out.[/color]
>>
>>
>> Please explain further...this sounds about right...
>>[/color]
>
>
> There are three big oil gally plugs that are inline with the spark plugs. A heater hose
> bracket bolts on the rear most plug for my car. Removing that bracket caused the
> plug to loosen up also and I did not no it was loose or a oil gally plug. (big allen head)
>
> Anyway if they are loose it will leak oil under that trim (cover #3) that covers the spark plugs
> and the oil runs out the back and down the bell housing so it looks like its a valve cover leaking.
>
> You need a big (maybe 14 or 15 mm) allen wrench if ones loose but I never found a torque spec
> for the three plugs.
>
> GL
> Dan
>
>
> Link does not show the heater hose bracket.
> [url]http://www.cygnusx1.net/Supra/Library/TSRM/MK3/manual.aspx?Section=EM&Page=32[/url][/color]


I haven't looked at the TSRM, yet, but I know what you're referring to.
Yeah, I noticed the hose at the back off the galley but have been
reluctant to remove it; isn't that the hose that goes to (or from) the
heater core? No wonder they said "Drain the coolant"...