[DeTomaso] Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug

[Charles McCall]

Today, I was the bug and the Pantera was the windshield..

 

I had the entire afternoon reserved for adjusting valve lash and was
debating between the lazy, 3-step method from the Monroe book, or the EOIC
method, which is what I should really do. But it is a pain hitting the
started 16 times to leave the valve where you need it - hitting the starter
3 times is much less than 16.

 

But I never got that far. It took exactly 4 minutes to remove 7 of the 8
valve cover bolts. I have just now, 4 hours later, removed bolt number 8. 

 

This bolt is right below the dipstick, and I just couldn't get anything on
it to loosen it. The dipstick was just above the bolt head, preventing me
from putting any kind of tool on it. I pulled the interior access cover so
that at least I could look at the offending bolt as it laughed at me and my
efforts. Not only couldn't I get a socket on it, but the ultra-thin-wall
socket that came close to fitting, fell off and is now somewhere in the
engine bay as it didn't fall below the car. I'll buy a magnet and go fishing
tomorrow.

 

After 4 hours to remove one bolt I decided to call it a day as I have other
tasks I need to do. So I have a whole week to decide whether to bump the
engine three times or 16 times.

-------------- next part --------------
   Today, I was the bug and the Pantera was the windshield....


   I had the entire afternoon reserved for adjusting valve lash and was
   debating between the lazy, 3-step method from the Monroe book, or the
   EOIC method, which is what I should really do. But it is a pain hitting
   the started 16 times to leave the valve where you need it - hitting the
   starter 3 times is much less than 16...


   But I never got that far. It took exactly 4 minutes to remove 7 of the
   8 valve cover bolts. I have just now, 4 hours later, removed bolt
   number 8.


   This bolt is right below the dipstick, and I just couldn't get anything
   on it to loosen it. The dipstick was just above the bolt head,
   preventing me from putting any kind of tool on it. I pulled the
   interior access cover so that at least I could look at the offending
   bolt as it laughed at me and my efforts. Not only couldn't I get a
   socket on it, but the ultra-thin-wall socket that came close to
   fitting, fell off and is now somewhere in the engine bay as it didn't
   fall below the car. I'll buy a magnet and go fishing tomorrow...


   After 4 hours to remove one bolt I decided to call it a day as I have
   other tasks I need to do. So I have a whole week to decide whether to
   bump the engine three times or 16 times...