I was told that my valve cover gaskets need replacing. Is this something a person with no real mechanical knowledge can do. I have changed spark plugs in the past but nothing major.

This is for a 1970 Cutlass Supreme w/350 Rocket (has Air Conditioning)

Thanks Guys!

 

Should be easy for you. Your biggest challenges are the brackets over the valve covers. You'll have to get them out of the way to remove them. Once out of the way you have 10 bolts on each side, no biggie. Best time to get your feet wet before bigger projects come up. Pretty straight forward stuff

 

It's not hard, just time consuming. A decent set of hand tools and a sailers vocabulary will work!!!

 

thanks guys, I'm going to give it a try this weekend, Thanks for the confidence booster.

 

Take pictures before starting, for reference!

 

Use FelPro PermaDry gaskets.

You will never change them again.

 

x2 on the Permadry!!

Good stuff.

Clean the surfaces really good too.

 

One of the best things I use to clean them up is paint thinner!

 

And don't overtighten the little attaching screws!

- Eric

 

Excellent advice do not over tighten.

Tighten to 7ft pounds starting with the center screws. Then after a couple heat cold cycles retorque. They won't leak again for years if
this process is followed.

 

Well I managed to replace the valve cover gaskets without to much trouble, just took more time than I expected. I noticed this green wire with a burnt connector tucked under the carburetor on the passenger side. This green wire was disconnected. What is it and where does it go. I have a Rochester quadrajet carb.

Thanks again

 

Is it the wire for the electric choke that's next to it?

- Eric

 

The green wire was tucked under the electric choke and it doesn't look like it connects to the electric choke.

 

The plug itself looks like the plug for the A/C compressor, but it's usually one black and one green wire, and the black one goes right to ground. There should be no superheat switch on a '70, so no weirdness with the A/C wires.

You got me.

- Eric

 

DO use the permadry+ gaskets!

If you do not have a torque wrench, use a nutdriver and tighten them by hand. - That will be close.

That wire looks similar to that of the TCS solenoid (which if you still have it, it would be threaded in the intake next to the oil fill tube.)
That resistor kinda gives it away...
The TCS is an emission device that is frequently bypassed.

 

Definitely looks like the A/C compressor connector. Block the hot air tube inside the housing and run a 12V key on wire to your electric choke.

 

Should I replace the choke and connector. And if so where does the "pig tail connector" connect to. One end to choke and the other end to ??

Thanks,