My MKIII - My Project - Need a few answers

[Bru]

leaking valve covers has been a problem for everyone since Supras began. The way I solved it on mine is to use a drop of the red loctite on the threads. (only do this if you use allen head bolts because it's difficult to untighten) Get the oil out of the threaded hole with a clean pointed Q-tip and some solvent twisting in the direction of the threads only. I also got rid of the stock phillips screws and got stainless bolts with a allen cap on eBay. The metal washer under the cap was dome shaped. The original black rubber insulators which I think I were faucet washers melted. I replace those with fuel injector O-rings from a 1984 Chrysler laser turbo. Don't over crush the O-rings. If your valve cover rubber seals have gone too flat or stiff, replace it with a new Toyota made one. I use a thin layer of oil resistant silicone on both sides as an extra measure. The result is not much if any oil leakage and the bolts don't work loose. Use a pointed surgical tweezer or a small screwdriver and a bit of paper towel to soak up the oil around the spark plugs. Other oil leak problem areas are the cam position sensor O-ring and the camshaft front oil seals. Those are lectures all by themselves.

Update 5/27/10
Here is a MR2 web site that sells a few Supra parts as well. They have upgrade valve cover bolts / washers for $16 a set. I still recommend using a drop of the red locktite. They also have a cam position / distributor rebuilding kit for $24 that includes an internal shaft oil seal, outer housing O-ring, shaft bearing, and shaft pin. I plan on carefully drilling and or tapping out the old pin to reuse the drive gear. The old pin probably domed over or spread out in a v notch on one or both ends.

http://www.twosrus.com/catalog/produ...products_id=66