"Chairman Kaga" (mike-mckinnon)
07/21/2014 at 11:44 • Filed to: None
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"Chairman Kaga" (mike-mckinnon)
07/21/2014 at 11:44 • Filed to: None | 0
| 10 |
This past weekend I finally decided to get to work on my GTV6's AC system. It's dammit hot in Texas, and that means without air I can only comfortably drive the car a few months of the year.
To kick things off, I also decided to install new valve cover and spark plug gaskets, and why not check valve clearances too. I knew the previous owner had used a liquid gasket for the job. I had no idea it would ruin my weekend.
Long story short, I can't get the covers off. I posted up in the Facebook Oppo group and got some ideas, but nothing panned out. Heat, solvent, lubricant, razors, mallets, prying, tapping, tugging. Just stuck.
I did get the dead York AC compressor and condenser removed (which also involved draining the coolant system and removing the radiator, which was a hoot), and I only need to find a way to get to the expansion valve so I can flush the evaporator before installing the new compressor, receiver/drier, and parallel flow condenser. Hopefully the hoses and fittings are OK (fingers crossed).
Well, this morning at 4 am as I was feeding my 1 year old who for some ungodly reason decided that was a perfectly acceptable time to wake up, had a mild epiphany.
So the engine is all aluminum. I have to be very careful about scoring surfaces, so going to work with a chisel is out of the question. BUT, what if I got myself a bolt that was a bit longer than the ones used to affix the cover to the head, and ground down the threads where it would insert into the head. Then bolt into cover, a few small turns, and theoretically it SHOULD act like a jack and pop the cover free.
Is that a workable theory?
Oh, and while I'm at it, I found this Beta branded screwdriver wedged between the exhaust manifold and the frame. Beta is an Italian tool brand...
505Turbeaux
> Chairman Kaga
07/21/2014 at 11:49 |
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Got to get that engine hot and work while it is hot. Even if he shellacked those things it will come with a little bit of love. Trust me, been there before. You might warp the v/c if you try and jack it up like you say, unless you do it in all bolt holes and turn them all slowly.
Cherry_man1
> Chairman Kaga
07/21/2014 at 11:51 |
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screwdriver from factory maybe? Or previous owner?
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Chairman Kaga
> 505Turbeaux
07/21/2014 at 11:52 |
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Except the radiator and all of the hoses are out for refurb too. If the bolt method doesn't work (since verified as workable by the AlfaBB) then I'll have to wait and do this once it's all buttoned back up. Hopefully I can get the AC set up to an acceptable degree before having to take it to a shop.
CAR_IS_MI
> Chairman Kaga
07/21/2014 at 11:52 |
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Is that a workable theory?
No.
While I am not 100% familiar with that specific motor, 99.9% of engines I have seen / worked on, the cover has no threads. The threads are in the head. you could screw the longest bolt you could find in there and it would stop when it hits the bottom of the screw bore and the cover would never move.
Cutting down the threads on the bolt would do nothing except risk damaging the threads on the head.
I'll see what I cant figure out for you.
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505Turbeaux
> Chairman Kaga
07/21/2014 at 11:54 |
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you have a good indy who knows Alfa down there in what, Texas was it?
If you ever want to bounce anything off of me come find me on the facebook and shoot me a request. Then you can just message me. I know a bit about them!
lonestranger
> Chairman Kaga
07/21/2014 at 11:59 |
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Your jack screw theory isn't going to work. The principle does exist. Manufacturers do design jacking screw threads in certain applications. The valve cover would need to have secondary threaded bores going to solid flat parts of the head.
Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
> Chairman Kaga
07/21/2014 at 12:01 |
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Chairman, you should get into BDSM, it will be less painful than working on that car.
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Chairman Kaga
> lonestranger
07/21/2014 at 12:03 |
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So basically it's just going to get stuck and not turn further? Damn.
I think I'm just going to have to put off the "easy job" until the AC is done and the cooling system is back in, then try the hot engine approach. I tried a heat gun and a butane torch, but since it's all aluminum it never gets hot enough.
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Chairman Kaga
> 505Turbeaux
07/21/2014 at 12:05 |
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My mechanic, who's really the go-to Alfa guy in Austin, is out of town right now. He's been phone assisting with the AC stuff but I didn't want to mess with his vacation schedule. I'll see if I can get him on the phone this week. I'll tag you on FB.
EL_ULY
> Chairman Kaga
07/21/2014 at 13:45 |
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DAMN!!! Be cafeful on that dude, drink plenty of bee...Gatorade. Heat index today in Houston is going to be 107!