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Valve Cover Gaskets - What's your trick?
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Cmangeot
Posted 2019-09-03 3:26 PM (#586992)
Subject: Valve Cover Gaskets - What's your trick?


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Removing mine to repaint....i bought the Mahle gasket set from Rock Auto. Does anyone glue the gasket to the cover with RTV?

Just looking to see if there is best practice with the 4 bolt covers to ensure a tight seal.

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1960fury
Posted 2019-09-03 3:41 PM (#586995 - in reply to #586992)
Subject: Re: Valve Cover Gaskets - What's your trick?



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I guess you are talking big bock I use thick and soft silicone gaskets and to be safe silikone sealand on the lower part.

And of course, check the covers for straightness 99 out of 100 aren't and it helps the use the large, long washer plates that spread the force of the bolts. If you do all that, there is no problem with the 4 bolt big block valve covers

Edited by 1960fury 2019-09-03 3:46 PM
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Cmangeot
Posted 2019-09-04 8:58 AM (#587037 - in reply to #586992)
Subject: Re: Valve Cover Gaskets - What's your trick?


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I am repainting on a RB 383 - 1960. The Mahle gasket set is cork/rubber with the small rubber washers.

I have seen many reference RTV, but I have never used it.
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57chizler
Posted 2019-09-04 1:21 PM (#587051 - in reply to #586992)
Subject: RE: Valve Cover Gaskets - What's your trick?



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Many people characterize the use of RTV with gaskets as akin to wearing a belt with suspenders but if it works..........

A thin bead of RTV is added insurance of a no-leak engine.
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56D500boy
Posted 2019-09-04 2:11 PM (#587054 - in reply to #586992)
Subject: RE: Valve Cover Gaskets - What's your trick?



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From a previous thread, I said:

"What I remember was there was a "wrong way" and a "better way" with the gasket, involving flipping the gasket over up/down left/right until the holes lined up better. When I finally figured out the best orientation, I ran a small bead of RTV on to the interior lip/flange of the valve cover. Then I pushed the new cork gasket into the RTV and flipped the cover over and put it on the head, over the studs.) I had previously cleaned the heads of any residual gasket material from the old gaskets and then wiped them clean). Then, as I tightened down the nuts, I pushed the gasket back under the valve cover wherever it was trying to push out (in a few areas). I snugged the nuts down but not a gasket-killing amount. One year later and not a drop of oil leakage and no escaping gasket to be seen."

REFERENCE: http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=65655&...

Then there was an update:

"
56D500boy - 2019-05-02 8:26 PM

Well this is embarassing.

I went out to the Dodge this afternoon, armed with a 3/8" drive rachet, a 1/2" socket and a 6" extension and found that *ALL* 12 of my valve cover nuts/bolts (3 nuts and 3 bolts per side) were loose. Not sure why. I thought that I had used lock washers and had snugged everything down. *BUT* it is probably 2 years since I stripped and repainted the valve covers so it probably isn't surprising that they were loose. I know that I didn't use star washers but now I think that I want to.

I wiped the lower edge of the very leaky passenger side valve cover after I tightened things down and now will have to wait to see whether tightening was enough to stop the leak(s).

:)
"



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billy
Posted 2019-09-05 8:36 AM (#587089 - in reply to #586992)
Subject: Re: Valve Cover Gaskets - What's your trick?



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Hey Dave, Nice looking engine compartment.....did you pull motor and paint or did you paint it while still in the car? That's one of my next things to do,,,,spruce up the engine compartment. billy
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56D500boy
Posted 2019-09-05 9:50 AM (#587093 - in reply to #587089)
Subject: Re: Valve Cover Gaskets - What's your trick?



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billy - 2019-09-05 5:36 AM

Hey Dave, Nice looking engine compartment.....did you pull motor and paint or did you paint it while still in the car?


Thanks, Billy.

The valve covers were stripped and painted off the car when I had them off to adjust the solid lifters on this D500 engine. That is the proper colour (with NO "Super Red Ram" sticker) for a 56 (or 57) D500 hemi.

As for the engine itself, I just cleaned what I could see with solvent and paper towels until I got rid of the oil/grease/dirt and when that was dry I painted it with a combo of gloss aluminum Tremclad (think Rustoleum) spray and/or brush. There are still parts that you can't see that need painting. Eventually I'll get there too.



Edited by 56D500boy 2019-09-05 9:54 AM
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1960fury
Posted 2019-09-05 10:53 AM (#587102 - in reply to #586995)
Subject: Re: Valve Cover Gaskets - What's your trick?



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1960fury - 2019-09-03 3:41 PM

I guess you are talking big bock I use thick and soft silicone gaskets and to be safe silikone sealand on the lower part.

And of course, check the covers for straightness 99 out of 100 aren't and it helps the use the large, long washer plates that spread the force of the bolts. If you do all that, there is no problem with the 4 bolt big block valve covers


Forgot the most important thing: Do not overtighten the vc bolts/nuts.
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