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Rear valve cover removal

A

Angleiron

New member
The wifes 2000 GT had oil leaks from the valve covers, and taking care of the front valve cover gasket was no big deal...but now I am at the rear one. I have pretty much everything ready to go, but it looks like the water pump needs to come off for the valve cover to be removed?

Can anyone elaborate as to what is needed to get this done (what exactly is needed to get the valve cover off involving the water pump)? Took the day off to do this, and this is where I am stuck. Do I need to completely remove the alternator/water pump or ?

Thanks!
 


You just need to remove the alternator and then there are 3 bolts i nthe coolant/heater hose bracket underneath the alt. that have to be either removed or loosened...you might spill some coolant so be aware but then unbolt it and you should be good to go.
 
Ok, I know im digging up old threads, but it beats making a new thread. I have a question after 45 minutes of using the search button.

Can the rear valve cover be removed without pulling the bracket that houses the coolant elbows? I changed the elbows a few months back, so the cooling system is full of new coolant and I dont exactly want to dump it all on the ground on a Holiday Monday when there are no stores open, to buy another jug. I would just drain my system, but there is a blockage at the drain valve on the rad and it just trickels out, stopping completely at times.

I gotta get this rear valve cover gasket done before the damn thing burns up and I get a fire call to put my own flippin car out..lol


Thanks,
Jay


EDIT:
1997 Grandprix GT, 3800 NA
 
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You can remove the rear valve cover without totally removing the coolant elbows/tensioner bracket. You just have to very gently wiggle it, until they start to seep a tiny bit, and you should have just enough clearance to get the cover off. (I've done it twice)

Also, if it comes down to it, just remove the lower rad hose at the radiator and drain from there, yes it wont be a full drain, but it will remove enough so that it doesn't leak everywhere if you have to pull the coolant elbow/tensioner bracket.
 


the downside of the 97/98 W or 96-99 H body alt bracket is that the lower elbow is part of the alt bracket. It's easy to crack the timing cover if you don't take years wiggling it out gently.
 
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