3.8 valve covers

[SOONverySOON]

I am new to the board and I am here because I need help. I am attempting to do the valve cover gaskets on my car and I dont see how for the life of me I am going to loosen the bolt to the rear engine lifting bracket???? how do you do it? also is it just me or are these cars the hardest things to work on in the world? any help would be great thanks.

[hockeyman]

Try a universal knuckle for the ratchet, it should work. If not, try a 1/4" ratchet with a deep socket.
Yeah, they are one of the hardest engines to work on because half of the engine sits under the cowl. GM designers are buttheads.

-Marc

[SilverRS96]

haha ya they r messed up with the motor uunder the dash board...try workin on 1 of those stupid DSM's they r even more retarded

[Tru2Chevy]

The next time you complain about the engine sitting under the cowl, think of how horribly the car would drive if it was pushed to the front of the engine bay, and all that weight was on or in front of the front tires. Having it back puts more weight towards the center of the car, which helps greatly with weight distribution.

That is part of the reason that the v6 cars have better weight distribution than the v8s....the 8s have more weight in front of the front tires 'cos their engines are larger.

I know that they can be a pain to work on, the v8s are back just as far, and I just assisted with a head/cam swap on one last weekend. But it really is for the better.

my $.02

- Justin

[SOONverySOON]

I dont see how I could get a socket on the bolt I can barley get my hand on it. should I go at it from the bottom? I dont think my arm is long enought to reach that far up though??? I adont know.