Gents,
I recently replaced the camshaft cover gaskets on the right bank. Many thanks to michaelh, for his helpful input. As we all know, it's good to have a peak around when you're on a particular job, as you can pre-empt future problems. It's also opens your eyes to what the previous owners had done in terms of maintenance, especially as I had no car history. I'm not even sure of my engine number, but that's another story. Still here is my recent discoveries: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.



All seemed to be in order, and the GOOD news is that the previous owner had recently installed the metal bodied timing chain tensioners. I had the secondary tensioners in hand just in case I needed to put them in, but I didn't need to do it. I can cross that off my list.



The BAD news is that the previous owner didn't put a blob of epoxy gasket sealant on the flat spot of the cover gasket, where the front engine cover meets the block. That was a badly leaking spot but only one of many. The camshaft cover was covered in oil in a lot of places, and it took a lot of cleaning.


The UGLY - the original camshaft cover gasket was totally brittle! It just broke into bits as I removed it. If you're going to the effort of replacing the timing chain and tensioners, why not change this out. It's cheap!

 

Looks like he did not clean the engine bay either.

Your doing a good job. By the time your finished you will have an even greater car. Well done on sorting out that gasket, not many would have spotted that.