Question: you noted one of the "plug wires" showed signs of arcing.....
 

....but I can't figure where there are any "plug wires" on our ignition coils - do you mean the long rubber boot that goes down into the head?

Most excellent write-up! Dealer would have said, "Eh, that's normal seepage."

Yup, see the browning on the 3rd one from the right...
 

<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~absolutcq20v/valve_covers/04200007.jpg">

Man...great job! I still haven't done the drivers side...but I'm ready now
 

I think you have the whole procedure nailed down. Great work.

I'm curious why you said that mechanics agreed no sealant needs to be applied to the gasket to 1/2 moon gasket? You did it right? I think the reason the old gaskets shrink has to do with not applying sealant which eventually allows air in and drys them out over time.

Just a thought anyway.

Great writeup!

I think the high temps back there have more to do with failure than exp. to air.
 

That back portion of the pass. side valve cover gasket was brittle as hell, while the rest was more ductile. Just a guess, but who really knows...besides The Shadow. :P

Oh, and for the record...
 

No leaks whatsoever after 800 miles of driving, included in which was a track event at VIR. She's as dry as a bone! :D

Great stuff - One thing to add: Set the cams at TDC, before trying to compress the adjuster.
 

If you don't, it won't compress.

How's the timing critical and play in?
 

I understand that the tensioner is expanded via a combination of internal spring force and oil pressure...and it only engages the underside of the chain to take up the slack.

Not sure exactly how it works, but when you turn the engine over
 

you can watch the adjuster rise and fall. I didn't pay any attention to it at first. I couldn't get the tool to compress the adjuster at all. I went back at looked at some of the pictures in OCDBoy's post and noticed my adjuster seemed to be sitting pretty low. I also looked at the Bentley, which said to put the cams at TDC, although that section addresses removing the adjuster. Once I got the adjuster properly positioned, it all looked like the pictures and life was good again (at least as good as it gets while you're in the middle of that job!).

About 4 days later, someone else posted with the same problem I had, so I figured I should post a note for the archives.

Hmm, interesting...must have some input from the camshaft. Thanks for posting!