DIY Network

Civic Cam Upgrade: Modified Valve Cover; Dyno Results Performance Cam Shaft and Cam Gears, Part 4 of 4 From "Tricked Out" episode DTRK-312

In this project, Tricked Out host Andrew Totolos performs a cam swap on a Honda Civic hatchback. In this final phase of the project, Andrew demonstrates how to modify the valve cover for easy cam gear access. The project car is then taken to the Dyno shop for some high-end tuning.

Materials/tools used in this phase of the project:

painter's tape
cutoff saw or rotary tool
file or sandpaper
rubbing alcohol
clean rags
fresh engine oil

Safety Alert: Always wear eye protection and ear protection, and follow proper safety precautions, when working with power tools or pneumatic tools. Also wear eye protection any time you are working underneath a vehicle.

Safety Alert: As a standard safety precaution, always disconnect the vehicle's negative battery cable before you begin work on any electrical or mechanical components.

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Modifying the Valve Cover

If the valve cover is put back as is, the front side of the cover is going to partially cover the new adjustable cam gears (figure A). That won't make adjusting the gears very easy. Andrew deals with this problem by cutting off the belt shield using a cutoff saw. If you don't have a cutoff saw, you can use a rotary tool instead.

• Mark a cut line across the top with painter's tape, and then cut it off using a cutoff saw (figure B) or a rotary tool.

  Figure A

  Figure B

  
  

• Once you've completed the cut, use a file or sandpaper to clean up the edges (figure C).

• Clean the valve cover thoroughly to insure there are no metal shavings left inside to migrate to the engine.

• Next, lightly oil the gaskets with fresh engine oil for a proper seal and install them in the valve cover (figure D).

  Figure C

  Figure D

  
  

  	Figure E
  	Figure F

• Replace the newly modified valve cover on the engine and torque all of the bolts down to 7.2-foot pounds (figure E).

• Once the valve cover is replaced, you can reinstall the spark plugs, the PVC hose and the distributor. Line up the tab on the intake cam with the slot distributor. The tab and slot are slightly off center so that they will only fit together in the correct way.

• Finger-tighten the three bolts, and then match up the paint mark you made at the beginning of the project and tighten everything down.

• To complete the project, install the plug wires (figure F), plug in the distributor harness, reattach the negative battery cable, and drop the car to the ground.

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