HELP! Cant get valve cover gaskets on
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 441
Likes: 2
From: Lilburn Ga
HELP! Cant get valve cover gaskets on
I cant get my freaking gaskets on this 87 l98. They are the blue fel pro gaskets, and after I stretch them to fit the valve covers, when I am putting the valve covers on, they keep popping off. Is there no way to put them on, without gluing? I cant even get them to stay in place without holding them. The directions say no glue, or gasket maker? Is there a better brand gasket?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,488
Likes: 4
From: Frostburg MD
Re: HELP! Cant get valve cover gaskets on (soundkillr)
Are you using the stock valve covers? They fit fine on mine, make sure all the oil is off the covers are the gasket are clean and warm. I had to stretch them to get them on mine, this is hard to explain but I had to make sure they curved up towards the valve cover instead of down towards the motor when they were stretched on, that way they didn't pop off on installation. Don't glue them.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 14,924
Likes: 9
From: Merritt Ils Fl
Re: HELP! Cant get valve cover gaskets on (shotchkiss)
Throw those worthless pieces of rat poopie in the nearest trash can. Have gone through this with two sets. Glued them in with the best stuff I could buy and they still shrunk to the point that all sealing was lost. Parts store gave me a set of Fel Pro VS 12869 T which look to be a very good product.
Safety Car
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 3,651
Likes: 5
From: Atlantis
Cruise-In I Veteran
Re: HELP! Cant get valve cover gaskets on (soundkillr)
Glue them to the VCs with weatherstrip adhesive... the yellow stuff..
Wait until the glue sets up then install them.
Sometimes I will set the valve cover upside down and set a book or two on the gaskets to hold them while the adhesive dries.
Edit: I see you have an 87... put on the gorilla snot weatherstrip adhesive,
set the covers upside down and put your bolts through the holes to hold them alighned while the glue sets up.
[Modified by VetNutJim, 10:13 PM 4/23/2004]
Wait until the glue sets up then install them.
Sometimes I will set the valve cover upside down and set a book or two on the gaskets to hold them while the adhesive dries.
Edit: I see you have an 87... put on the gorilla snot weatherstrip adhesive,
set the covers upside down and put your bolts through the holes to hold them alighned while the glue sets up.
[Modified by VetNutJim, 10:13 PM 4/23/2004]
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
From: Rochester NH
Re: HELP! Cant get valve cover gaskets on (VetNutJim)
I tried two sets of the Felpro gaskets, both were too short. Bought a set from the dealer. They were better, but still a touch short. I started my little propane heater and set them about 3 feet away from the end. Let them heat up, slowly. Then stretched them enough to put on the valve covers, drop the valve covers on the heads and that was it.
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Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,475
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From: Kingman AZ
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Cruise-In VIII
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Re: HELP! Cant get valve cover gaskets on (soundkillr)
An old hotrodder tip is to tape them on with the vinyl electrical tape. Leave a folded over tail on the tape. After you set the valve cover on the head you can lift it up a bit and pull the tape off. It is not real easy and there is some cussing involved but with patience it will work! :smash:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,152
Likes: 243
From: Northern VA
Re: HELP! Cant get valve cover gaskets on (corvetteronw)
:iagree: I have been using the 'ol tape method with those same Blue Felpros. I am going to have to glue them down though. Slippery suckers when you get oil on them!
