Valve cover removal
12-30-2004, 08:49 PM
#1
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Valve cover removal
Hey guys, Im no mechanic so I figured i post here before I pick up the wrench. I have an oil leak in my 84 944. I put it up on a lift today to see where it was coming from. It seems to be leaking from the valve cover(or so i think its the valve cover, right where it says porsche, above the headers) How do I go about removing the cover. I checked clarks garage and didnt see anything. Do I just remove the bolts along the left side? I didnt see anything holding it down on the right. TIA for the help.
Jeff
Jeff
12-30-2004, 09:30 PM
#2
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It's the cam tower and removal is a lot more involved than what you might be used to with a simple "valve cover" on say, a Chevy V8. You will need to remove the fuel rail, the timing & balance shaft belts, etc. . . If you're going to fix the leak, I strongly suggest reading up on the procedure fully and replacing the cam / balance shaft belts at the same time. Belt failures will kill these cars in a hurry (they are interference engines, so if a cam belt goes, you just ate eight valves and possibly a head, pistons, block, etc.)
If you own a 944, you WILL quickly become a mechanic or you will quickly become broke. The fact you found this forum seems to indicate your preference for the former, so that's a good thing. In any case, I would really try to find someone that's done it before or at least do some digging for the write-up (there IS one on Clark's, IIRC it's under "cam assembly" or "cam housing" or something - not "valve cover"). It really isn't that hard per se, but it will take a long time and you'll have to be patient and not rush things.
If you own a 944, you WILL quickly become a mechanic or you will quickly become broke. The fact you found this forum seems to indicate your preference for the former, so that's a good thing. In any case, I would really try to find someone that's done it before or at least do some digging for the write-up (there IS one on Clark's, IIRC it's under "cam assembly" or "cam housing" or something - not "valve cover"). It really isn't that hard per se, but it will take a long time and you'll have to be patient and not rush things.
12-30-2004, 09:34 PM
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That is the cam tower and contains the cam and lifters. You have to remove the intake manifold to get to the bolts that hold the right side. Yoy have to remove the distributor and the cam belt. The most important part of the job is tensioning the cam belt. Also be sure you set the engine to TDC before you remove the belt. Not a good first job but if you follow the directions on clarks you should be ok.
12-30-2004, 09:37 PM
#4
Cleveland Rocks
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Like the guys said, if you are prepared to do THIS.........
....then this is where you will be. I had to do the same oil leak repair last year, and these are the pics from it. Pretty involved job, really.
....then this is where you will be. I had to do the same oil leak repair last year, and these are the pics from it. Pretty involved job, really.
12-30-2004, 11:23 PM
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Yikes, I had no idea it was this involved. I guess this car is going to turn me into a mechanic. Thanks for the information. I will pull it off when I do the belts. Anyone know where I can get it powdercoated while its off 
12-30-2004, 11:40 PM
#6
Nerd Herder
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Originally Posted by jmporsche944
Yikes, I had no idea it was this involved. I guess this car is going to turn me into a mechanic.
"I didnt think it was that difficult!"
Pete, while bolting on a Tial wastegate...
12-31-2004, 12:14 AM
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Fortunately you have an n/a. They're far easier to work on than the turbos. It's still a lot to do as a first repair though. Oh well - comes with the territory. Might as well jump right in!
At least it wasn't a clutch!
At least it wasn't a clutch!
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12-31-2004, 02:51 AM
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You'll have fun. These cars are a challenge, but very rewarding for the effort. I know of no long-time 944 owner that doesn't have at least a "6" understanding of his/her car on a scale of 1-10. It simply comes with the territory - you do your own work and learn and get good at it or you go broke, give up, and sell it.
12-31-2004, 03:55 AM
#12
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Might wanna change the front and rear cam seals while the cam tower is off. Also, now that you're goin this far, might as well take the head off too and check the condition of the valves. Replace them, get the head ported, and check out the pistons. They'll probably need machining or something, and while you have the bottom opened up to extract the pistons, you can change the rod bearings. And don't forget to replace the belts and water pump. JUST KIDDING but this is how I feel sometimes. But seriously, consider the cam seals.
12-31-2004, 04:19 AM
#13
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might wanna check and make sure it isnt a much easier leak to fix. I had a bad oil leak earlier in the year, would have sworn it was the camcover seal. I started the procedure, and when I moved to the back of the camtower I noticed the true culprit... the rear cap had its bolts backed out, and the gasket had broken. The oil was flowing down and across the main cam tower gasket and onto the header, making it appear that the main gasket had gone out. You can get the rear cap gasket from pelican parts, its listed under parts for the 16V 928 cars.
12-31-2004, 05:03 AM
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Haynes also has a good write and pictures up of this job to use along side clarks-garage. It was the first job I had to do on my 944 a week after getting the car - the guy knocked $500 of the price we'd agreed since it is down as a 5hour job, so that was a nice bonus for me to buy a load of tools with - although it did take me a bit longer than 5 hours
12-31-2004, 05:09 AM
#15
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Had the cam tower gasket done to both my 83 944 and my 951 right when I bought it. In the 83, it was just from long, hard use. In the 951 I suspect it resulted from a switch to synthetic Mobil1 oil.
On the 944S2 however, it's just "a cover" and I was able to replace the gasket and o-rings myself. What's more daunting about the job in the other 2 cars is having to pull off the timing belt and resetting it at the correct tension. Be careful.
On the 944S2 however, it's just "a cover" and I was able to replace the gasket and o-rings myself. What's more daunting about the job in the other 2 cars is having to pull off the timing belt and resetting it at the correct tension. Be careful.