- 1). Remove the battery cable from the negative terminal using pliers. Remove the three wires (one large and two small) from the ignition coil using your hand. Note: Unplug the condenser connector at the coil, if there is one. Take the ignition coil off the engine using a socket wrench and open-ended wrench.
- 2). Loosen the clamps holding the throttle body/air cleaner hoses with a flat-bladed screwdriver and remove them from the air cleaner. Take out the screw that retains the fresh air intake tube. Unclip its end at the air cleaner using a flat-bladed screwdriver, and then take it off of the air cleaner. Unbolt the air cleaner from the engine using a socket wrench and remove it.
- 3). Use pliers to unscrew the lifting bolt on the right side of the engine and remove it. With a screwdriver, loosen the clamp that holds a Thermactor tube (part of the emissions control) on the engine's right side. Use a socket wrench to remove the bolt holding the oil-filler tube on the engine's left side.
- 4). Remove the spark plug wires off the spark plugs. Disconnect any wires, tubes or hoses that will interfere with removing the valve covers. Note: Mark or tag each one so it can be put in the right place afterward.
- 5). Remove the bolts that hold the valve covers to the engine using a socket wrench. Use a rubber mallet to loosen the valve covers, if necessary. Note: Do not use any tool to attempt to pry off the valve covers.
- 6). Clean the surfaces that the gaskets contact on the engine and valve covers with acetone or lacquer thinner. Use a gasket scrapper, if necessary, to completely remove any traces of the old gaskets. Put gasket sealer on both sides of the new gaskets, and place them in the valve covers with the locating tabs in the slots in the covers. Place the valve covers on the engine and install the bolts. Tighten the bolts to 10 to 13 foot-pounds of torque using a torque wrench. Wait two minutes and then torque the bolts again.
- 7). Reinstall all the wires, tube, hoses and parts that were removed. Start the engine and check around the valve covers for any oil leaks.
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