I posted a trick on getting the coolant out and leaving NO possibility for spill into oil galley. It's simple...
Youll need a piece of hose, garden house works, short - 5-10 feet long, a bucket with a top like an empty joint compound bucket (5 gallon), duct or painters tape and a shop wet/dry vacuum.
Cut 2 holes into the top of bucket lid, one sized for the vacuum hose, one for the garden hose. The vacuum hose should just enter the lid an inch or two, but the garden hose goes all the way to the bottom of the bucket. Tape and seal hoses in place.
Now, with engine cooled (obviously), and ready to start taking lim apart, open the radiator cap and place garden hose end into the radiator. Used the male end of garden hose here as its smaller and fits into it well. Make sure shop vac is set up for liquids, ie, removed filter and such. Turn on and slowly suck out coolant into bucket. The coolant will fill bucket and not get sucked not vac if set up as I mentioned. Keep taking coolant out until you can see level in radiator is below the bottom of lim height wise. When it gets low you can also then open up the thermostat housing and suck more coolant from there. That will get thelingering liquid in the lim. You might have to play around by closing up the radiator opening with your hand to create suction, but it works.
Short point of long story is, you'll open lim and not a drop of coolant will be there to fall into engine galley! : )
If due for a coolant flush, is a plus. When done, fill some coolant in but don't worry about air pockets. Drive (locally) to someone who uses machine to flush and swap coolant from that Dex crap, the machine will suck/flush coolant out and replace with new fresh stuff and eliminate any chance for air pockets for just a few bucks more than what the coolant will cost. Otherwise, I usually jack front end up a little to elevate it and make bleeder valve high spot when filling the coolant back into engine!
Obviously, as mentioned, check for moisture/coolant afterwards in oil to be 100% sure... But I've been good when I use this method. A little bit more work the 1st time, but worth it IMO, as it virtually eliminates possibility of screwing engine. Lol.
Use copper RTV, Dont be afraid to use it on the galley (small piece) of Lim gasket, especially in corners!
Use a small dab of RTV to hold valve cover gasket in place so it doesn't shift when replacing.
If adventurous ... Port S/C and paint it while off car, change snout oil if not already done. Change PCV valve too, plugs and wires if needed, thermostat too. Check belts n pulleys as well.
Be careful with all the vacuum lines, they break easily when handled and old.
Added bonus would be to drop tranny pan and replace filter/fluid there as well while having car down for maintenance.
: )
Good luck!
