The 97 had leaking valve covers on it. I've done tons of them and no problem.

Last night I spent about 6 hours doing the valve covers, plugs and wires. Pathetic time! Not really a tough job, but definately a pain in the butt job. The front cover is an easy one, flip the coils up, loosen the engine pull bracket and you are there. The back....well pulled 2 bolts and 1 nut holding the map sensor/egr guard rail. Removed the bracket on teh back that the O2 hooks to and loosened the enging pull bracket. Sounds easy...lol I felt like Jason and John Deere Boy laying on top of the motor to get some of the bolts.

Mechanic Dan has a labor estimate book....says 1.7 hrs for both valve covers. I was over triple that...like I said...pathetic. Don't know if 1.7 is reasonable. I took the time and did it right.

This morning I look at my hands and there'* really no cuts scratches or burn marks...I'm thinking that'* why it took me so long. Blood loss = faster time.

I'd be interested to hear how long it'* taken others....BTW the 95 looks like a walk in the park to get at compared to the 97.

Thanks for the words of encouragement :( I need to do mine sometime. Gave it a look over when I changed plug wires. I didn't feel like jumping right on that project just yet.

2 1/2 hours with burns and cuts

I did mine when the UIM was off. I also removed the strut tower brace. It made things real easy for the rear. It took me about 30 minutes to do the rear...PROPERLY. Cleaned it real well...was bone dry when I put it back on.

Took us 5 mins to remove Gordy'* (that was with beer break and engine out)

You guys that are S1, no comparision...I looked.

I cleaned it up really well, that'* why it took me so long. Yeah, the strut brace was missing 3 of the nuts and pushed off to the side.

It'* not a bad job, just time consuming to be careful of that little vacuum hose and other things. I know the words "can be brittle" and try to be gentle when possible.

Having done it I'd change the way I went about it.

That back bracket would be the first to be removed, then the Map sensor rail, loosen the engine hoist bracket and off comes the cover.

Less than an hour on mine with the STB removed.

Pieces already removed...blah blah blah...

Plus...a 93 has so little in the way. I was moving slow at first since some freakin idiot just drove the car around a bit before starting. Had to let it cool.

Both are easy to get to...nice thing in my favor was some dude (maybe you guys remember him...name was Randman1) left a 97 L67 laying over in the corner of my garage..so I wandered over and gave it a glance to see where things attached.