The rear bolt on the valve cover nearest firewall is impossible to see. Does anyone have a trick or technique for getting it out. I finally got my old *** in the engine bay and still having trouble. There seems to be a bracket or something on a stud where the bolt hole is and I'm not sure there is even a bolt on it. Any tips to get me going again or what the bracket thing is? Of course it is the last thing holding me up to put a new gasket on. Thanks Sandy

 

How's it going Sandy. Have you tried a mirror and a bright light to help you see that hidden bolt?

 

What I did; took a 1/4 sheet of 3/4 plywood and bolted it to the drivers side hood hinge, (hood was off) the other end of the plywood was supported by the core support. I was able to drag my old butt up onto that to undo the bolt.

 

Hey Glenn Doing good. Did you have your replacement yet? I will try the mirror today. Thanks Sandy

 

That's funny Eric. I thought of the same exact thing. Being old and 6'1" I don't fit in the bay well at all. Plus I screwed my back up on a jump years ago and bending over in there quickly reminds me I'm not 18 any more. Plus I found that the hood latch tries to get a little to friendly sometimes

 

As you can see; it makes a nice work bench as well.

 

I also being in my late 60's and having a back injury need a few aids, one of these is handy as well, just remember to tie it to the bumper or something so it doesn't slide away.
One more thing that can be done is take the front wheels off and set it on some short blocks. Cuts the strain of reaching to the back of the engine bay. I was doing a valve spring swap, so I was in there for a day or 2.

 

Good idea Eric. Thanks. Here is a picture of the culprit. It is a Valve cover bolt stud. It had the bracket on top blocking access to the bolt. The bracket was held on by a round star clip that is now destroyed on purpose. Anyway I just wanted you guys to know that I'm not totally crazy. Feeling it without seeing it or feeling the bolt was getting me very frustrated. It's off so now to getting it back on the road. Thanks guys Sandy

 

I think I'd swap that, less the bracket, into a more accessible spot and put one of the regular bolts in that spot.

 

Eric, That bracket thing will never see the light of day again. I don't know what it was for and I won't miss it at this point. Nothing was on it either I will change the bolt location. Sandy

 

That bracket originally had a plastic clip that holds the fuel lines and the vacuum lines that run behind the cover, then under the intake manifold up to the front of the engine.


I use long needle-nose pliers to lift it off the stud, then a gear wrench on the stud to get it off.


It's incredibly easy to get to if the transmission isn't in the way.

 

Yep I see the purpose of it. This one had a clip type washer on top that made it impossible to lift off without taking wire cutters to it. Plus I couldn't see it to know what was going on. The transmission was just rebuilt so it was in the way and hopefully won't come back off in my lifetime. Thanks for the info. Sandy

 

Was there a nut on the bolt on top of the washer? I'm in the same boot right now. I just cant see what is back there.

 

As I recall there was a star type clip that I had to destroy on top like my post said. It goes on that stubborn bracket, then take the bottom bolt off. They did a good job hiding it from us didn't they!!! Sandy

 

They sure did. Thanks.