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Write up - Intake assembly removal/valve cover removal/painted valve covers

S7ICKlVlAN

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VHT Wrinkle Plus – 1GR valve covers

Tools required
10mm socket/wrench
12mm socket/wrench
Long/short/med extensions
Hex socket (intake manifold bolts)
Linesman Pliers (clamp removal)
Torque wrench (inch & ft/lbs)
Razor blade (trimming masking & cleaning sealant on head)
Long blade screw driver (disconnecting clips at rear of manifold/misc)

Optional tools
Telescopic magnet (picking up tools/fasteners)
10 & 12mm ratcheting wrenches
Extended 45-90 degree needle nose pliers (removing clamps on TB)
4’ Ladder (reduced strain during installation)

Equipment required
VHT Wrinkle Plus (or desired) paint (1 can)
Acetone (or other evaporating thinner/solvent)
Hi-Temp RTV silicone (reseal valve covers)
Painters masking tape
Shop towels

Optional equipment
Heat gun/oven (speed curing)
Ziploc snack baggies (removed fastener storage)

Purpose for modification
Aesthetic improvement of existing raw finish valve covers

Introduction
The following is (to the best of my recollection) a step by step documentation including intake system removal, EGR removal, valve cover removal, and the consequent reinstallation of all aforementioned on a 2012 1GR Tacoma with updated EGR system. If you have a 2005-11 1GR you will be able to forego the EGR removal steps. I am writing this after having spent the last 6 hours doing the project, I’m tired, hungry and my back hurts. That being said, I will do my best to outline as completely as possible, all the steps required to do this successfully. Anywhere applicable, I reinserted any fasteners I removed back into the original locations to minimize the loss/confusion during reassembly. Where not applicable, I labeled snack bags and kept all removed fasteners in the bag until reassembly. I do not assume any responsibility for any injuries/damage should you decide to use this as a guide for your project.

Intake system removal
Step 1 – Disconnect negative battery terminal
Step 2 – Remove intake cover (2) 10mm fasteners at front of cover. Lift and pull to remove
Step 3 – Disconnect intake at TB by loosening 10mm band clamp and pull assembly free of TB
Step 4 – Remove (3) 10mm fasteners holding base of EGR pump.
Step 5 – Remove (2) 12mm bolts securing intake duct near pass fender
Step 6 – Disconnect vacuum line at rear of intake assembly
Step 7 – Disconnect PCV line from manifold
Step 8 – Pull entire intake system up and towards the driver side of vehicle. Make sure to pull the intake duct assembly clear of the passenger side fender. Remove entire assembly from vehicle

Intake manifold removal
Step 1 – Disconnect coolant lines from TB assembly using needle/linesman pliers
Step 2 – Disconnect crossover tube bracket (leave hoses/misc connector attached) by removing the 10mm bolt holding the bracket to the manifold. Use the 10mm wrench/ratcheting wrench
Step 3 – Locate and disconnect (2) wire harness fasteners that are plugged into the manifold. 1 is at the rear of the manifold and the other is located towards the rear and above of the pass valve cover
Step 3 – Disconnect tube from drivers side valve cover to MAP/BP check valve on manifold
Step 4 – Remove PCV tube located in the middle of the manifold
Step 5 – Remove (2) 12mm nuts at the front and rear of manifold base (Torque to 19ft/lbs on reassembly)
Step 6 – Remove (4) hex bolts (sorry forgot the hex bolt size) at the center of the manifold base (Torque to 19ft/lbs on reassembly)
Step 7 – Disconnect TB and MAF wire harnesses
Step 8 – Remove (2) 12mm bolts from brackets on the driver side of manifold
Step 9 – Remove (1) 12mm bolt from bracket located at the front of the manifold assembly
Step 10 – Lift intake manifold assembly up and out of engine bay
Step 11 – Cover intake manifold base with drop cloth to avoid foreign objects from entering the intake tract
Step 12 – Disconnect crossover tubes and misc connector from the bracket you removed from the rear of the manifold. Use the blade screw driver to gently release the clips locking the connectors in place
Step 13 – Reinstall the bracket to rear of intake manifold to prep for reassembly

EGR removal
Step 1 – Remove (2) 12mm nuts holding EGR sensor assembly to pass valve cover
Step 2 – Remove (1) 12mm bolt located near the exhaust manifold at the bottom of the EGR sensor assembly
Step 3 – Remove (2) 10mm nuts on EGR pipe from rear of the sensor assembly
Step 4 – Remove (2) 10mm bolts on EGR pipe from fender side of sensor assembly
Step 5 – Remove bracket 10mm bolt and disconnect EGR sensor harness
Step 6 – Lift assembly up while pulling forward and remove from engine compartment

Passenger side valve cover removal
Step 1 – Remove brackets at front and rear of valve cover (2) 10mm bolts
Step 2 – Remove (3) 10mm bolts holding spark plug boots in place (Torque to 80 in/lbs on reassembly)
Step 3 – Disconnect (3) sparkplug wire boots and drape over intake manifold base
Step 4 – Pull wiring harness connectors free from top side of cover using the blade screw driver to aid in removal
Step 5 – Remove all (10mm) fasteners (bolts/nuts) from both the center and perimeter of the valve cover (Torque to 80 in/lbs on reassembly)
Step 6 – Carefully lift valve cover and maneuver free from wiring harness and out of the engine compartment
Step 7 – Cover exposed valvetrain with drop cloth to avoid foreign objects from entering lubricant circulation system
Step 8 – Using the razor blade, scrape sealant located above the cam gears on the surface of the head where the valve cover sits
Step 9 – Wipe any residual silicone/oil clean using the acetone and shop towel. This should leave this surface prepped for reinstallation process

Driver side valve cover removal
Step 1 – Loosen bracket (the one that held the manifold in place) located at the front of the engine. Pivot down and out of the way
Step 2- Remove bracket (1) 12mm bolt located at the rear of the driver side head that the manifold was fastened to
Step 3 – Pull the wiring harness free from the valve cover assembly using the flat blade screw driver to aid removal
Step 4 – Disconnect (3) sparkplug wire boots and drape over intake manifold base
Step 5 – Pull wiring harness connectors free from top side of cover using the blade screw driver to aid in removal
Step 6 – Remove the (2) 10mm nuts holding the oil filler neck to the valve cover assembly and remove oil filler neck the from engine compartment (this step can be done after valve cover removal so as to use the filler neck as a leverage/lifting point)
Step 7 – Remove all (10mm) fasteners (bolts/nuts) from both the center and perimeter of the valve cover
Step 8 – Disconnect (2) rear fuel injector connectors to allow for more play in the wiring harness (helps with removal/installation of valve cover
Step 9 – Lift valve cover assembly up and maneuver towards the front of the engine to remove.
Step 10 – Cover exposed valvetrain with drop cloth to avoid foreign objects from entering lubricant circulation system
Step 11 – Using the razor blade, scrape sealant located above the cam gears on the surface of the head where the valve cover sits
Step 12 – Wipe any residual silicone/oil clean using the acetone and shop towel. This should leave this surface prepped for reinstallation process

It is important to note that the VHT Wrinkle Plus paint is a slow drying product that (ideally) needs to be cured in an oven at 200 degrees for 20 minutes to best results. This may not be viable for you unless you have an oven dedicated for industrial type use, as the fumes emitted from the paint may render your cooking oven toxic. If you cannot oven cure the paint once applied, use of a heat gun will aid in optimizing the best cured finish. I would also recommend painting the valve covers and leaving them in the direct sun for as long as possible before installing them. I masked and reinstalled all fasteners in the valve cover prior to painting to avoid getting paint in the threaded areas of the valve cover and to maximize coverage with the VHT Wrinkle Plus paint. I would strongly recommend this as well.

Prep/Paint process
Step 1 – Using the acetone and shop towels, thoroughly wipe all grease/oil/dirt from the surface designated for painting. The better you prep, the better the paint will come out, so be thorough
Step 2 – Mask all tubes/studs/mounting surfaces on the valve cover, using the razor blade to cut clean masking lines around the mounting surface masks
Step 3 – Apply coat #1 of VHT Wrinkle Plus paint to the prepped valve cover surface. With this product you can make all coats fairly heavy, but be careful not to cause runs. Also note, spray entire coat in a single direction. Keep nozzle 6-10” away from painting surface
Step 4 – Once initial coat is applied, allow 5 minutes to dry
Step 5 – Apply coat #2 going across the grain of coat #1 and repeat step 4
Step 6 – Apply the final coat. This coat is meant to ensure complete coverage of all areas of the valve cover surface. Lay this one on decently heavy
Step 7 – This step can be done using an oven (see intro to paint/prep) or you can air cure. I air cured and expedited curing using a heat gun
Step 8 – BE PATIENT AND LET THE PAINT CURE. The valve covers can be handled within a couple of hours, or you can really take your time and let them cure overnight

Installation is the reverse of removal except that you will need to place a bead of silicone on the mating surface of the heads where you previously removed the factory sealant. (2) medium sized beads should be all you need. TAKE YOUR TIME AND MAKE SURE ALL ELECTRICAL, VACUUM, COOLANT, EGR connections are made. If you air cured your valve covers, now is the time to start the car up and let the engine heat finish the curing process. Allow the engine to get up to operating temp and then run it for 20-30 minutes before shutting it down. Do not open the hood until the engine is completely cooled down to maximize curing process. If nothings leaking/rattling/burning and no CEL indicators have popped up, pat yourself on the back cause you did a good job, and now your valve covers are another show piece that few others will have.

Here's some pics to go along with the write-up

Before pass side
IMG_7471.jpg

After
IMG_7493.jpg


Before driver side
IMG_7472.jpg

After
IMG_7495.jpg


Before valve cover
IMG_7475.jpg

After
IMG_7491.jpg


Before VHT Wrinkle Plus
IMG_7487.jpg

While curing
IMG_7489.jpg


Intake removed
IMG_7480.jpg

After
IMG_7490.jpg


Completed pics
IMG_7494.jpg

IMG_7493.jpg

IMG_7496.jpg
 
Last edited:

BSP06XRU

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:adore: Great job and awesome write-up! :top:
Looks like you had a productive weekend so far!
 

black_120

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really diggin' how the color of your valve covers pops out in the engine bay. reminds me of the Corvette valve covers on the LS1.
 

Workman3886

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Love it! This may be a project for me when I get a CAI
 

Torspd

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Great job on that write-up, again! This will be extremely handly for the '12+ members/future owner.

:adore:
 

blackx-runner

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Awesome write up man. Thanks!!!

And the finished product looks great. :top:
 

xrgilly

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this paint would look sexy on the intake piping of the urd tcai hmmm thinking i might do it with a bright blue colour
 

S7ICKlVlAN

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Thanks for the feedback guys. I tried to catch everything, but I was really tired by the end of it (just got off back surgery).

I hope this can help someone get the job done a little easier. :cheers:
 

Moneyblind

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Thanks for the feedback guys. I tried to catch everything, but I was really tired by the end of it (just got off back surgery).

I hope this can help someone get the job done a little easier. :cheers:

What kind of back surgery you have to go through mate? I just had some serious mods installed into my back in january. (Thats my back in my avatar)
 

S7ICKlVlAN

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What kind of back surgery you have to go through mate? I just had some serious mods installed into my back in january. (Thats my back in my avatar)

Micro discectomy...gotta go back in for my neck this year too. :thumbdown:
 

I<3JDM

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110% SICKNESS!!! :blurock: great write up. something im looking forward to do in the future. Thanks
 

COMAtose HI

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thanks for the write up!!! i'll just wait for you to come to the big island and help me lol.
 

Xrunner Drifter

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Very awesome and complete write up. 
Seeing this makes me less afraid to do it.
Someone is going after TROTM
 

S7ICKlVlAN

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drifter - It ain't that bad. The pay off is worth it!

Kody - Thanks fam. Will do.
 
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