Changing Oil pan/Valve cover gasket

[AtownAccord]

Just purchased a 93 SE and need to change the oil pan gasket. Does the exhaust collector need to come off or can you manuever the pan around it? Any advice on changing the valve cover gasket?. I have always purchased my auto parts at my local NAPA store. Do you recommend OEM parts for Hondas or would the stuff NAPA sells work? I like to do projects correct the first time and I am willing to pay more for the proper equipment. Thanks for any advice/tips.

[GrayCar]

I bought a FelPro valve cover kit from Checkers, worked well for me.

Some guys put the liquid gasket stuff into the corner parts of the valve cover, I didn't though. The manufacturer doesn't reccomend it so I didn't. No big deal, preference I guess.

There's a thread on how to to the lower gasket of the spark plug tube here: http://www.cb7tuner.com/vbb/showthre...&threadid=9300

One caveat though, when you bolt the valve cover back on, be careful on the cap nuts. The bolt the screw on to is very easy to snap off. I learned the hard way. If you do, you'll have to go to a dealer and get the bolt, which goes into the head, remove the valve cover and do it all over again.

As far as the oil pan, my gasket is also leaking, would like to hear how folks get this out of their car.

[Slateboy]

You have to remove everything under the oil pan. If I'm not mistaken, there's a dog-bone looking frame support underneath also that needs to get unbolted, but to remove the oil pan, you do have to remove all that's underneath it. Also, if you're removing an oil pan from an automatic-transmission motor, then there is a metal plate between the oil pan and the flywheel that is removed simultaneously with the oil pan. It's a bitch.

[GrayCar]

Thank god I have a manual tranny...

Cool, thanks for the info.

[Slateboy]

Make sure you douse the nuts on the exhaust manifold with some penetrating oil. If you snap the studs off, you'll have a heck of a time getting them out.

[OM617]

My oilpan is also leaking, but after looking at it I think you could remove the pan without removing the front crossmember and the exhaust header or A pipe. I think you could slide the pan to the side and take it out, but there might not be enough room. It would sure make it easier as there would be no potential siezed bolt issues.