Valve covers glued to car?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 472
Likes: 0
From: Warren NJ
Valve covers glued to car?
I'm trying to remove my valve covers to polish, however, I can't seem to get them off. They are frozen on there! I tried a rubber mallet and a putty knife with no luck. I can see the edges of what seem to be cork gaskets under there.
Any thoughts or suggestions?
Any thoughts or suggestions?
Instructor
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Calgary Alberta
Re: Valve covers glued to car? (DaddyO)
Hmmm..just have to keep trying to convince them they should with the mallet. All four corners and in the middle a few solid blows each usually releases them..Another trick is to hit and pull at the same time. If you can get your fingers in a breather hole front or rear..and pull and whack at the same time..They will sometimes pop loose this way..Careful using the putty knife..you can scratch your cover...or pick up a few stiches...Good Luck..Hope they weren't put on with locktite......Just Kidding.. :jester :rolleyes:
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,685
Likes: 202
From: Waterford Mi
Re: Valve covers glued to car? (ltinnell)
Sounds like someone used a gasket sealer on them the last time they were installed. Try using a razor knife to loosen the sides up. Be careful if you use a pry bar you can bend the edges.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 9,078
Likes: 7
From: DFW TX
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Re: Valve covers glued to car? (jbroughton)
Some people used "Gorilla snot" or 3M adhesive to put them on back in the 80's. We picked up a 350 by it's manifold one time to see how tough the stuff was. :eek:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,714
Likes: 6
From: Silver City NM
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
Re: Valve covers glued to car? (Budman78)
Yep....3M adhesive used to be SOP in many garages.
You CAN use stuff like that on valve covers, as long as you ONLY cement the gasket TO THE COVER. Rubber gaskets are less prone to "welding" themselves to metal than cork. Plus they generally give a better seal.
If you are worried abour leaks you can use RTV, but even that is some pretty strong stuff! I never glue the gasket to the head. And the only real reason to glue it to the valve cover is to make it easier to install.
If you are experiencing leaks, then either the gasket isn't lining up right, or something is warped. They now sell studs for the valve covers so you just drop the gasket over the studs and then drop the valve cover on the studs/gasket. Shouldn't need cement at all.
Dep
You CAN use stuff like that on valve covers, as long as you ONLY cement the gasket TO THE COVER. Rubber gaskets are less prone to "welding" themselves to metal than cork. Plus they generally give a better seal.
If you are worried abour leaks you can use RTV, but even that is some pretty strong stuff! I never glue the gasket to the head. And the only real reason to glue it to the valve cover is to make it easier to install.
If you are experiencing leaks, then either the gasket isn't lining up right, or something is warped. They now sell studs for the valve covers so you just drop the gasket over the studs and then drop the valve cover on the studs/gasket. Shouldn't need cement at all.
Dep
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