2003 passenger side valve cover removal (5.4L 2v 2WD)

[Gary Warner]

I'm doing a timing chain job and I can't get the passenger side valve cover off. It's being hung up at the firewall by a large wire harnes and it won't move enough to clear the cover. Any tips on getting past this problem?

Best I can come up with is removing the motor mounts and/or transmission mounts to lower the engine an inch or so. Seems novel though. I was hoping there are better ideas.

Thanks in advance.

Gary

 

[kens2003FordExpy]

I'm doing a timing chain job and I can't get the passenger side valve cover off. It's being hung up at the firewall by a large wire harnes and it won't move enough to clear the cover. Any tips on getting past this problem?

Best I can come up with is removing the motor mounts and/or transmission mounts to lower the engine an inch or so. Seems novel though. I was hoping there are better ideas.

Thanks in advance.

Gary

I had to move wiring aside.. undo the COPs.. etc... removed all 14 bolts..(not all the same bolt sizes) move the trans dipstick over... but it is doable..

 

[Gary Warner]

Thank you Ken. I did manage to get it off the way you describe. Getting the power steering pump out of the way was something else too. I'm glad it's all in the past. 1500 miles on the chain-job and it's all good.

 

[Gary Warner]

Oddly I didn't take pictures of that side of the engine. I did though take pictures of the other side because of what I found when I removed the camshaft. See the pictures of a drill-chip I found in an oil passage.