Best valve covers gaskets
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 412
Likes: 1
From: Champlain New York
Best valve covers gaskets
Changed the cork based gaskets on my 82 vette with factory perimeter valve covers twice now and they still leak. Not much - but enough to smell the burning oil after the car sits for a few days. Plus the engine is getting dirty.
Can anyone suggest a better gasket style/manufacturer?
Thanks
Can anyone suggest a better gasket style/manufacturer?
Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,417
Likes: 336
From: Texas
these are the ones i use, reuseable, work great, $24
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...2313&ppt=C0026
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...2313&ppt=C0026
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,480
Likes: 2
From: Circleville Ohio
Vader Vette
Took me twice but the second time cork gasket and The goop with the Indain on it looks almost black let it almost harden before you put it back on and the biggest thing is dont over tighten the bolts.
Three years no leak , the fel pros gaskets are good but the valve covers are old and arent straight anymore .
Three years no leak , the fel pros gaskets are good but the valve covers are old and arent straight anymore .
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 799
Likes: 26
From: Lexington Park Maryland
I use the standard cork gasket with a little preventive action; apply think coat of the high temp gasket maker on the valve cover, then apply the gasket to line up the holes. I do this before I do any of the work on the car (valve adjustment) so it will dry. When you are finish with the work clean the lip on the head of any oil or old gasket with brake cleaner or I use the white gas as parts cleaner (coleman fuel). then apply a small bid on the cylinder head lip.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,713
Likes: 31
From: Shreveport LA
LA Events Coordinator
I use the standard cork gasket with a little preventive action; apply think coat of the high temp gasket maker on the valve cover, then apply the gasket to line up the holes. I do this before I do any of the work on the car (valve adjustment) so it will dry. When you are finish with the work clean the lip on the head of any oil or old gasket with brake cleaner or I use the white gas as parts cleaner (coleman fuel). then apply a small bid on the cylinder head lip.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 840
Likes: 4
From: Syracuse IN
Some of the best valve cover gaskets on the market are GM OEM for the Vortec heads. I know you don't have the center bolt Vortec heads but if you did, I bet they wont leak. The head design has a higher lip on the outside which displaces the oil from the seal area. The rubber gaskets are also reusable a couple times. Al
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
Its not so much as the brand of gasket selection, as the preparation as suggested above....glue the gasket into a cleaned valve cover with 3M trim cement either yellow or black works as it will harden up solid in the cover...that blue or whatever silicone commonly used cannot provide this type of seal...3Ms prevents contact of rocker arms or any other part you cant see bumping the gasket out of place as the cover is placed back on the engine....
And yes the 'Felpro brand is a good choice
And yes the 'Felpro brand is a good choice
