I already have the engine out and have begun working on it. 260k mile engine; timing belts and water pump are good. We're doing an oil pump and seal on it, clutch disc, and probably a rear main seal.

 

I have two questions.

 

1. Since the engine is out and everything I've been cleaning it quite a bit. I pulled the valve covers and the bolts underneath (I guess they would be called the rocker cap bolts) felt REALLY loose. What's the proper torque on those?

 

2. A lot of my gaskets are still pliable and in pretty nice shape. I'm poor as ************ and don't want to replace unneccesarily. Should I just run a bead of silicone over all the ones I plan on reusing (i.e. valve cover gaskets)?

since the engine is out, replace the rear main seal and all the clutch stuff. pilot bearing and throw out bearing. they are not accessible once it's back out.

 

might want to tackle the oil pan gasket since it's a pain to do in the car (unbolt engine, lift it up...blah blah blah). but half the time getting a new gasket to seal is a PITA.

 

everything else is accessible with the engine in the car, so feel free to leave it as is. i'd either go balls out and reseal the entire thing or only do things you have to at this point. i wouldn't try to find some "middle ground", it's too ambiguous really. but tackle the stuff that's easy with the motor out.

 

since the valve covers are accessible with the engine in the car you can try a bead of silicone if you want and fix it again later if it doesn't work. i'd be mostly worried about any of the silicone squising inside the valve cover/cam area and getting washed down into the oil pan. yeah there's a sump screen and oil filter and it'll probably come out at the first oil change...but i don't like the thought of junk getting in my oil.

 

i'd probably reinstall the old gaskets as is, no sealant. if they don't hold or start dripping then i'd worry about silicone or getting new ones. i ordered XT6 valve cover gaskets from the online cheapy guys for $6.99 each. i bought like 5 sets since they were so cheap

thing is, last owner had a brand new clutch put in before we got it - and the guy redlined it, dumped the clutch, and broke a clutch spring. all the parts are great but the old disc had a small fracture and a broken spring, so it really just needs the disc.