valve cover question

[costcommando]

i painted my valve cover today and when i was putting it back on i lost a bolt. so now i have the valve cover on with a bolt missing, the bolt on the back right of the engine. im just wondering if this will cause any big problems. im going to the junkyard tomorrow to pick up a new bolt.

 

[markwells]

as long as you used a new gasket or RTV i dont see you having any problems.

 

[bgibb68]

you might get some oil seepage but as long as you find a bolt you should be ok, minus the lil extra work cleaning the oil off

 

[Skorch]

Don't forget to torque it down right

 

[ornithology]

Make sure the bolt isn't INSIDE...

 

[bgibb68]

Make sure the bolt isn't INSIDE...

ohhhh....good call batman(chair)

 

[costcommando]

Don't forget to torque it down right

dont i want to re tighten after it is warm. i dont know if this is correct or not

 

[lowkota92]

as long as theres no leaking you dont have anything to worry about

 

[bazooka joe]

dont i want to re tighten after it is warm. i dont know if this is correct or not

don't think so...

 

[Driver_X]

when replacing the valve cover, and putting a new gasket on...should there be silicone sealant put on as well or do I just need to put a little bit of oil on the gasket and then torque it done???

 

[Maxx Mazda]

You have to put silicone according to the picture i nthe shop manual. It's around the cam caps.

 

[imola.zhp]

lol

I'm missing 2 or 3 and I've never re-sealed anything or torqued anything down. I was in there 3-4 months ago, long story...

I think you'll be ok missing one for a few days, or weeks.

 

[P-Funk!]

To be sure - why not 'move the hole' to the middle of one side instead of an end?

 

[meGrimlock]

does anyone know the thread pitch and length of the bolt? i too am missing one -- its the top left bolt, the last bolt if you unscrew it according to the shop manual. and yes i managed to remove all the bolts without dropping them except for the very last one. the valve cover is back on and yes it is not inside the engine, but wanted to know if i can pick this up at the local hardware store instead of searching a junk yard or buying from the dealer. thanks
-meGrimlock

 

[hornsfan10609]

I don't remember the specs off the top of my head but i had to buy new vc bolts recentlty. I got an 8 pack at the local auto parts store, just bring one of the bolts in and there is a board there that you can use to find the size of the thread (it's metric) and then you can find the right length, (around 40 mm IIRC).

 

[cheungms]

pics of the finished job? I'm looking to do this as well (after I sand off all the rusty-ness). What type of paint? Clearcoated?

 

[meGrimlock]

I don't remember the specs off the top of my head but i had to buy new vc bolts recentlty. I got an 8 pack at the local auto parts store, just bring one of the bolts in and there is a board there that you can use to find the size of the thread (it's metric) and then you can find the right length, (around 40 mm IIRC).

thanks, i went and did that after work today. on the test board it was a M6-1.0, at least thats what i could make out in the faded writing. they had some bolts that size, but the hex was pretty shallow and there was a slight taper where the head of the hex meets the body. also there was no flanged hex which i would prefer since the bolt on the valve cover has it too. i forgot what grade the hardware store's bolts were and i'm not fully familiar with what is acceptable strength for our engine's use.

mazda part number: 997960630B
MRSP: $3.44

i found the part at a local dealer for $1.47 so a dollar more than the hardware store, i think i'll get the mazda part after all(smash)

 

[CTt3P5]

Part #s as follows:

Valve Cover Bolts
Qty of 9 short ones - 997940630 (part # superseded by 997960630B) @ $1.43ea
Qty of 2 long ones - 997940650 @ $1.79ea

Grommets for VC Bolts
Qty of 9 (for the short bolts) - FS0110237A @ $2.81ea
Qty of 2 (for the long bolts) - KL0110243A @ $5.33ea

So a full set will run you $52.40 + shipping from OMP.....which is what I'm looking at since I'll be putting a powder coated cover on soon and would hate for the og bolts with 130k worth of rust to ruin the look. haha

 

[meGrimlock]

i just got the one...now im kinda regrettin it. the new bolt is a little different and it is black instead of zinc coated. but the thread pitch and the length of the bolt is the same. maybe i'll get the whole set when i replace my timing belt.
(gah)

 

[bucksatan]

So a full set will run you $52.40 + shipping from OMP.....which is what I'm looking at since I'll be putting a powder coated cover on soon and would hate for the og bolts with 130k worth of rust to ruin the look. haha

I just hit the heads of the old bolts with a coat of high temp paint when I put on my powder coated valve cover. Should be able to get the bolts for a lot cheaper at any hardware or auto store, I think I paid about 10 cents a bolt. Of course, that is in Canada where metric sizes are much more common.