I was trying to take off my valve cover today and couldn't quite get all the way there. I got all the bolts out no problem, but there are two studs that are connected with nuts. They are sitting loose so I can't get any torque on the nuts. The whole unit just spins. I tried to hold the bolt with vice grips, pliers, whatever I had, and just wound up cussing at the whole thing. Any tips on how to get these nuts off? This is a 90 4.0L I6 Renix.

 

that is weird, never heard of any probs with this. sounds like the bolts might be stripped. you can try prying up with a screw driver on the cover, while turning the nuts. this will help if they're stripped and just spinning in the head.

 

Hammer. Seriously, either a dual-face hammer or a big rubber mallet. Give it a few whacks in a few spots, and it should pop.

 

Hmm... I just did my '99 last weekend. Several of the valve cover bolts were similar to what you're describing. It was like a stud with a nut halfway down but it is all ONE piece. I just turned the whole thing out.
If they're loose, can you just yank them out? Dunno if I'm really talking about the same thing or not.

 

You mean to tell me that all I had to do was keep unscrewing that f*&#^@g thing and I would've gotten them out. Jeez, I would've never thought they were one piece. Why are things so retarded? And why are some bolts always next to impossible to get to?

 

so did you get it? and valve cover is one of the easiest repairs on a jeep, so just wait to find hard to reach bolts.

 

Didn't have time today. Too cold and too rainy, plus I was at work all day. The next sunny semi-warm day, that sucker's comin off.