2003 Valve Cover Bolt Accessibility | Ford Thunderbird club group 1955-2005 T-Bird models

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2003 Valve Cover Bolt Accessibility

  • Thread starter Thread starter wiggy
  • Start date Start date
wiggy

wiggy

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Thunderbird Year
2003
Replacing rh valve cover gasket. Having trouble accessing bolt #12 of cover at bottom by firewall. Have tried multible extentions,swivels etc and cannot get a bite on it. Anyone who's done this have any ideas? Many thanks

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biddle said:
All the tools needed are discussed in the COPS thread including what to use to access that bolt.

Thread 'Top Issue- 02-05 Ford Thunderbird Ignition Coils COP' https://forums.fordthunderbirdforum...-05-ford-thunderbird-ignition-coils-cop.5040/

Use a swivel- https://amzn.to/31eql34

Directions- Post in thread 'Top Issue- 02-05 Ford Thunderbird Ignition Coils COP' https://forums.fordthunderbirdforum...hunderbird-ignition-coils-cop.5040/post-35040
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Thanks for reply Biddle. I do have the required tools so as I've stepped back from it for awhile its time to go at it again as sometime that's all it takes. Does the valve cover gasket replacement seem to be the main answer to this cop issue. I've done the windshield gasket already. Thanks again.
 
When replacing the coils, some of the threaded inserts stuck to the coil cover screws. Is there any way to put them back into the valve cover and male them stay? An adhesive? Should I replace the screws with stainless steel to prevent them corroding in place, again?

20240402_095859.jpg
 
Hi.
looks like a brass knurled insert was pressed into the head. Carefully grab it with vice grips so as not to distort the insert and try to get the screw out. A little heat might help, but be careful not to melt anything! Clean the threads on both parts. Use locktite on the insert and press it back into the head. Put ant-seize on the screw when you put it back together. You could use stainless, but use anti-seize as well.
Good luck!
 
wiggy said:
Thanks for reply Biddle. I do have the required tools so as I've stepped back from it for awhile its time to go at it again as sometime that's all it takes. Does the valve cover gasket replacement seem to be the main answer to this cop issue. I've done the windshield gasket already. Thanks again.
Click to expand...
JB weld ,don’t over tighten !,I took mine off a long time ago ,haven’t replaced cops since (overheated coils ??)
 
PLE999 said:
When replacing the coils, some of the threaded inserts stuck to the coil cover screws. Is there any way to put them back into the valve cover and male them stay? An adhesive? Should I replace the screws with stainless steel to prevent them corroding in place, again?

View attachment 31056
Click to expand...
Those appear to be ultraserts they are installed in the plastic valve covers using ultra sonic driver. Don’t use loctite ever on any type of plastic as it deteriorates plastics. Use high strength high temp epoxy for plastics like jb weld to retain them in the valve cover
 
I'm changing the valve cover gaskets on my 2002. When I was taking the bolts out, they appeared to be captive in the covers. I now know that the ridge on the bolts were through the gaskets, holding them in place. I found this out when two bolts fell out - I still can't find one ... - my question is do I need to put the bolts through the gasket before putting the cover in place, or will it seal ok if I put the covers in place and then put the bolts in?
 
Kevin said:
I'm changing the valve cover gaskets on my 2002. When I was taking the bolts out, they appeared to be captive in the covers. I now know that the ridge on the bolts were through the gaskets, holding them in place. I found this out when two bolts fell out - I still can't find one ... - my question is do I need to put the bolts through the gasket before putting the cover in place, or will it seal ok if I put the covers in place and then put the bolts in?
Click to expand...
Hello, late to see your post. Are you asking about the two loose bolts? If so, I put the covers in place then put those two loose bolts in and it went ok for me.
 
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