Valve Cover?

[civic_stylez]

i just had my SOHC valve cover chromed and i want to put it back on and some people are telling me that i have to torque the bolts to a specific degree and some are telling me that it doesnt matter and to just screw them on as tight as it goes. i should know this myself but i hope you guys can give me the right answer! thanks!

[buh_buh]

torque them!

[RickDaTuner]

Originally posted by civic_stylez
i just had my SOHC valve cover chromed and i want to put it back on and some people are telling me that i have to torque the bolts to a specific degree and some are telling me that it doesnt matter and to just screw them on as tight as it goes. i should know this myself but i hope you guys can give me the right answer! thanks!

cylinder heads are the most delicate part of the whole car any dirt debris or anything on the threads will ruin your head, you need to torque them down check a HELMS manual for specific torque specs, also when your threading them in by hand place the bolt on the thread and with little a little pressure on the bolt spin then, as if you were taking them out, then when you hear them click you can start to thread them in.

If you ever tighten them you will end up Cracking the threads in the head, if you don’t have a torque wrench use a 10mm wrench to tighten them make the wrench is no longer that 6" or you could over tighten them with out know you applied to much pressure

[boi-alien]

torque em

[THREE40SEVEN]

Originally posted by civic_stylez
some are telling me that it doesnt matter and to just screw them on as tight as it goes.

Dont take ANY more advice from who ever told you this. I would guess(i dont know imports) that they must be tightened/torqued in a specific sequence. I couldnt see anything past 15ftlbs for a valve cover bolt/stud. Buy a manual and get the proper sequence and torque specs.

[jdmakkord]

last thing you want is a fucked up valve cover gasket spewing oil all over your new chrome! Do it right the first time around

[95TsiAWD]

Get a manual and a good torque wrench.
Eitehr that or get one of those screwdriver type things for your sockets. That should keep you from putting too much torque on them.

[civic_stylez]

thanks alot guys!

[legendboy]

Do them up hand tight until they won't go anymore, then give them 1/2 a turn with your wratchet. Honda valve cover gasket works more on even distribution of torque more than how tight they are torqued. They don't even half to be very tight as long as there all close to the same.

[ramminghard]

Isn't there a pattern too, like putting on heads? If it was me i would go from the center out. Not sure though. A manual for your car would tell you i think.

[CanadaCivicSIR]

Yes there is a pattern to tighten them.

I believe it starts at the bottom right side the crosses over to the top of the left side and so on.

15lbs is more then enought to torque the cover, don't go to tight and warp the cover.

[RickDaTuner]

Originally posted by CanadaCivicSIR
Yes there is a pattern to tighten them.

I believe it starts at the bottom right side the crosses over to the top of the left side and so on.

15lbs is more then enought to torque the cover, don't go to tight and warp the cover.

you'll crack the thread seats way before you warp the cover

[legendboy]

ok, theres no way that you will "crack the thread seats" as you keep saying. The bolt will snap WAY before you pulled the threads out of the head. lol Any of thoes small bolts on the engine will snap around 20lb ft. All the bolts used in the valvetrain and the valve cover...etc... are 6mm bolts which are very week. It would take huge torque and a much large bolt to stretch the threads.

[RickDaTuner]

Originally posted by legendboy
ok, theres no way that you will "crack the thread seats" as you keep saying. The bolt will snap WAY before you pulled the threads out of the head. lol Any of thoes small bolts on the engine will snap around 20lb ft. All the bolts used in the valvetrain and the valve cover...etc... are 6mm bolts which are very week. It would take huge torque and a much large bolt to stretch the threads.

trust me the Older D series engine have this problem the front threads, which are not Cut into the head they are part of the cast on the inside of the Cylinder head making them weak, or are built into one of the camshaft support towers, if they were like the B series then yeah they have the threads drilled into the Head.
the Middle front thread is the most suceptable to this,
the rear ones aremt so much as they are in the head as well, if it doesnt happen when you over tighten them then, when the block is cold it will hapen when the engines warms up

[Hollywood]

I don't know hondas but as an FYI (and a generalization) my SR has a recommended TQ spec of 9lbs, and in a specific order (basically diagonals outside to outside). If one was to tighten it too much you would strech the bolts before anything else.

[legendboy]

I don't think its possible for 6mm bolt threads to be part of the "cast"

[4wheeldrift]

Originally posted by legendboy
I don't think its possible for 6mm bolt threads to be part of the "cast"

Depends on what kind of casting technology was used to make the head. Usually they are machined in (much cheaper), but some manufacturers cast them.

[RickDaTuner]

well I dont mean to be an ass its just the expereince ive had with them, and just giving a heads ups,

[Hollywood]

Originally posted by legendboy
I don't think its possible for 6mm bolt threads to be part of the "cast"

I'm with legend on this as well.

[4wheeldrift]

Originally posted by Hollywood


I'm with legend on this as well.

If the valve cover is die cast, it is more than possible to include threads in the casting, even ones as small as 6mm, depending on the pitch and shape of the thread. If the threads aren't cast into the head, they'll have either been machined in directly, or put into a finished hole as a friction retained insert.