BB valve cover gasket question.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,977
Likes: 19
From: Canboro Ontario
BB valve cover gasket question.
I am changing my valve covers on the 454. My question is, they will be Felpro cork gaskets, do you recommend a sealent, on one side or both, and what sealent is recommended? Thanks for your help.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,359
Likes: 15
From: Confusion
My opinion on gaskets are that no sealant is needed, they do their job fine without it..............BUT, a sealant is usually needed to hold the gasket in place until all bolts are installed. I usually use Indian Head Gasket Shellac and adhere the gasket to the valve cover, if you don't want to do that, you can take sewing thread and tie the gasket through the bolt holes to hold it, then break and remove thread (tough sometimes to do). But don't adhere gasket to head, the cover defines the edge of the gasket better.................B
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
Felpro is a good choice with the cork/rubber type.....but there are several brands and the trick is the installation. The cover must be clean and flat. I use 3M weather stripping sealer {#8011} as I recall completely around the lip and then lay the gasket in. Use whatever you can to hold the gasket firm until it hardens {about 15-20 minutes}...The object is to make sure the gasket dont move by bumping a rocker or anything else that's possibly in the way that you cant see and causing a inexcusable leak...One side only for the sealer as the 3M sealer is almost bullet proof and nearly impossible to remove. But the bonus is that the gasket can be used over and over....Some of mine are 30+ years old removed several times and still seal....
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