So, I'm halfway through my Y-pipe upgrade - all parts removed. Before I start putting the new parts on, I want to rectify a couple issues I found in the guts of the car. I knew to expect this one.

The inner two valve cover bolts are corroded. The photo below is the worst of the 4, but all 4 definitely need to be replaced. The other photo below is one that I would call good and the bad one from the first picture.

My question is - can I reuse the collar/seal? The bolt doesn't just slide out, so I'd have to figure out how to remove it and get a new one in without damaging the seal. "Why not just buy new ones?" you ask. "They are cheap, and then you don't have to worry about borking the seals just to save a couple bucks." you say. My thought was that I would put stainless bolts in these four to help fight against future corrosion. I'm also going to do some other things like add flaps to my engine cover to divert the water that comes in through the hood vents, but if I can reuse the collars or even buy new bolts and use the new collars but still put stainless bolts in them, that seems like it would be a net positive.

Would love to hear opinions. Thanks!

 

Swap them. The seals are cheap and trying to save them usually ends with them getting mangled. Not worth the headache.

 

Yeah - I didn't care that much about saving the seals. Like you said, they're cheap. I was thinking more about whether it is worth putting stainless bolts in those valve covers in the spots that tend to get wet and corrode. If so, I'd have to swap the seals into new bolts whether I not I buy new seals.

 

I like the idea of SS bolts. The originals always seem to rust up.
Do the OEM seals come off easily?

 

if you have sorted out the water ingress then it doesn’t really matter either way.