When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Hi,
I’m working on installing new valve cover gaskets and bought these ultraseal. they seem to be made of cork but have a polymer coat on both sides. Did anyone use such seal?
thanks
this is the driver side, I was leaking oil, under the gasket there was paint, not sure if it was suposed to be painted on the mating surface or to leave the bare metal. Then the paint was peeling off which could explain the oil leak. Otherwise the blue gasket looks ok. Should I reuse it or use the ultraseal?
i may try cork and a thin (!!) skim of permatex aviation gasket on the cork both sides.
my problem with rtv is the major pita for the next guy, which can alot of times be me. its quite possible cork will work with no coating, ive just never done it.
Should just use the rubber ones from factory. Make sure all the surfaces are clean and not oily (use brake cleaner or acetone). They get installed DRY, no adhesives or rtv or anything. Properly torqued they won't leak.
Should just use the rubber ones from factory. Make sure all the surfaces are clean and not oily (use brake cleaner or acetone). They get installed DRY, no adhesives or rtv or anything. Properly torqued they won't leak.
interesting i didnt know factory used rubber.
do u know what year that (ish) was? i remember discovering that my 85 had red rtv under the vcs and somewhere i read that 85 (maybe ironhead?) used rtv from factory?
when i tried the blue permatex silicone gasket it was too thick. Then i tried the thinner steel framed but with ribbed rubber and for whatever reason i couldnt get them to seal on the rounded perimeter walls of the 85’s ironhead. loath rtv....that was how i ended up with cork and hylomar. it was flexible so confirmed to the ironheads shape, and thin enough that i could use my factory bolts. the hylomar was a safeguard.
i do have an aluminum headed 90 im about to do as well...perhaps ill find the oem rubber underneath! cool
do u know what year that (ish) was? i remember discovering that my 85 had red rtv under the vcs and somewhere i read that 85 (maybe ironhead?) used rtv from factory?
when i tried the blue permatex silicone gasket it was too thick. Then i tried the thinner steel framed but with ribbed rubber and for whatever reason i couldnt get them to seal on the rounded perimeter walls of the 85’s ironhead. loath rtv....that was how i ended up with cork and hylomar. it was flexible so confirmed to the ironheads shape, and thin enough that i could use my factory bolts. the hylomar was a safeguard.
i do have an aluminum headed 90 im about to do as well...perhaps ill find the oem rubber underneath! cool
I'm not sure when they started, but i thought it was 86 and up.. thats when the 1 piece seal started as well to dry up the SBC.....but im a boat guy,, and thats when they started with the better seals...
These magnesium rocker covers seem problematic, while powder coating on the outside may work, on the inside rail the paint may be affected by engine oil. I saw GM made a polished aluminum set. I think I’ll just buy and install it.
I’ve installed aluminum rocker covers with the old silicone gaskets and they performed well so far. The leak before the swap was caused by swelling of paint between the gasket and metal because of magnesium corrosion, so the gaskets are still ok.
I ‘ll keep the old ones too and I’ll try to restore them.
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.
ultraseal valve cover gaskets
