Which cam cover is easier to remove. A bank or B bank? I want to have a look to see if the tensioners and chains have been done. Is it easier to remove the air intake or the coolant header tank and dipstick on the other side?

 

You might want to remove BOTH as I have seen engines with only one replaced (apparently one broke so that was the only one replaced)

Most of the time both sides are replaced BUT........................

bob gauff

 

I agree you need to look at both to be sure, but the air intake side is a little easier to remove IMO.

 

I started on the side with the dipstick. I have one nut left that I can't get at it because of the dipstick. Any idea how to overcome that issue.

 

Thats one reason the other side is easier .

Pull the dipstick up VERY firmly and it should release....it is a friction/o-ring fit. Do not lift the dipstick and tube any higher than absolutely necessary, or you may have a time getting it back in the blind hole.

If after a concerted effort you cannot get it free, some people have trimmed down the stud a bit with a dremel to allow it to just lift a few threads and then slide off.

 

No amount of effort (short of breaking it) would release the Dipstick from my Engine.

I used a Side Cutters to cut a slot in the Dipstick Bracket allowing it to slide sideways out of the way.

 

Yes that is what I did. Cut a notch and moved it aside. Bad news though. Old tensioners are still there. The secondary tensioner looked in tact but I had a good look at the guides and one is split all the way through already. No need to look at the other side. Looks like everything needs to be done.