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[Lizzie_Zoom]

Well today it was a frustrating day in some respects, but a good one in others ways!

As planned stripped the plenum and all associated bits off the top of the engine, after removing wipers along with the scuttle shelf, and in particular stripped and cleaned all the oil breather pipes, holes, crankcase breather pipes, etc.  All went well.

Then I went on to remove the cam covers to replace the gaskets as I have started to have that dreaded 'oily smell'.  Right pain manoeving the blessed intake manifold off and out the way, and then that dreaded passenger side bank!!!  Why put a rear bolt to hold the cover when you cannot easily get to it??? Grrrrrrrr  Then all the wiring and pipework that conspires all the way through to get in your way!

Anyway, after a number of times feeling like crying and walking away, looking for a prince charming to take the pressure off my shoulders, I purservered!    

It is a good job I did, as guess what I found on the drivers bank??; every single spark plug hole filled with oil!  

Anyway, cracked on, with all kinds of pipes, wires, bit and pieces getting in my bloody way, managing to remove the old gaskets, replacing them with new ones + black gunge, and reassembling both cam covers.  Once more though the passenger side, which was a right pain to get off and pull away from everything in the way, was the same going back in, with a few aborted attempts when the new gaskets kept catching on things and being pulled off!

After much cursing all through the job the idiots who designed these cars, I reassembled the cam covers, inlet manifold, and various plumbing..........but then time ran out with darkness fallling and I said "sod it" I'll take a sicky tomorrow from uni (well I won't have a car to go in anyway! ) and complete in pure daylight, all fresh, with a complete check of all the work done so far including torque settings (yes I did do the cam covers at 8Nm!)

So tomorrow will be day three on the miggy, when fingers crossed it will all work! AAs for now I have just had another lovely bubbly bath, hair wash, and degrease in all respects

Now for the dinner I am just cooking!

[cem_devecioglu]

Well done Lizzie

You have more courage than me..The last time I try similiar things there was another 2 couple of mechanic eyes controlling me not to mess up things..Lonely..no way

V engines unfortunately require hard work..And Omega V6 engines not easy to work on except some proffesionals..

[JamesV6CDX]

Keep at it Lizzie...

First time I did the NS camcover was just like that for me - but after doing several it's second nature.

Top tip - get some cable ties, to hold the loom right out of the way. Another tip - try and get the cover down in a "clean sweep" - if the gasket touches the gunge on the head, it will leave the camcover...

[Richie London]

i didnt like doing passenger side,gasket kept coming off as i tried to put lid back on. then when i finally finished and went for a drive, smoke coming out side of bonnet, had to strip it again. everything is a learning process.  
id rather do cam covers than hbv, frigging ripped me hands to bits  

[JesterRT]

...smoke coming out side of bonnet, had to strip it again...

Which is exactly what happened to me this morning.  Can't wait to get back under there... NOT.

[Welung666]

Well done Lizzie I hope today proves as good as the last 2 and your leaks are fixed [smiley=thumbup.gif]

[Marks DTM Calib]

Do remember that you will get smoke directy after this job because some oil will spill on the manifolds.

Of course, once you become an old hand at it.....this turns into a routine job