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66 Hemi Valve Cover Gasket #1448416
06/06/13 01:27 PM 06/06/13 01:27 PM
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 331
Northeast
edl Offline OP
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had the car in for minor body work - while it was there i asked the guy to change the valve covers on a stock 426 ci hemi engine as oil was seeping out

guys says he can't do it - something about "o-rings" - having never opened up the valve covers before or changed the gaskets, is there anything special? - anyone know what he is talking about?

thx!

Re: 66 Hemi Valve Cover Gasket [Re: edl] #1448417
06/06/13 01:30 PM 06/06/13 01:30 PM
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Bend,OR USA
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The 426 Street Hemi have both rocker arm cover gaskest and O rings around the spark plug tubes, where are yours seeping or leaking? BTW, most body shops are ran by paint and body men, not mechanics

Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
Re: 66 Hemi Valve Cover Gasket [Re: Cab_Burge] #1448418
06/06/13 01:50 PM 06/06/13 01:50 PM
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edl Offline OP
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thanks Cab

true enough on the point about most body men - these guys do old car restorations on the side and so know basics - not sure why this stumped them

thanks for the point about the o-rings around the spark plug tubes - did not know that - it is seeping from the edge of the valve cover

so when you take the valve cover off (which i will do as soon as i get the car back), what do you see? - four recessed rings around the spark plug tunnels? - is the point they were making that these o-rings should be changed at the same time (and they probably didn't have any)? - I am assuming that the valve cover gasket that seals the edges is the same as any other engine?
Re: 66 Hemi Valve Cover Gasket [Re: edl] #1448419
06/06/13 01:54 PM 06/06/13 01:54 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
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Remove the spark plugs first and be prepared for oil to go into the cylinders unless someone added the bottom tubes seals , those were not stock. When you pull the covers the tubes will come with them, the o-rings are on the tubes and the tubes pull out thru the top , normal valve cover gasket , usually cork.

Have you tried tightening the valve cover bolts some ..... carefully ?
Re: 66 Hemi Valve Cover Gasket [Re: JohnRR] #1448420
06/06/13 01:58 PM 06/06/13 01:58 PM
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edl Offline OP
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thanks John - helps me get a visual

snugging down the bolts is what they did - we'll see when it comes back if that took care of it

if not, i'll remove the covers and change the gasket

if i do change the gasket, should i change the o-rings? - are the o-rings removable from the tube or is it an integral piece such that the whole tube must be replaced?

thx!

Re: 66 Hemi Valve Cover Gasket [Re: edl] #1448421
06/06/13 02:01 PM 06/06/13 02:01 PM
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JohnRR Offline
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Change the o rings also , it's a seperate piece from the tube.

there is a picture of what the tubes look like in the hemi engines for sale section , minus the o rings
Re: 66 Hemi Valve Cover Gasket [Re: JohnRR] #1448422
06/06/13 02:02 PM 06/06/13 02:02 PM
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edl Offline OP
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thx!
Re: 66 Hemi Valve Cover Gasket [Re: edl] #1448423
06/06/13 02:12 PM 06/06/13 02:12 PM
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yep...here they are
Re: 66 Hemi Valve Cover Gasket [Re: edl] #1448424
06/06/13 02:15 PM 06/06/13 02:15 PM
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JohnRR Offline
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It looks like the o rings are on those ...
Re: 66 Hemi Valve Cover Gasket [Re: JohnRR] #1448425
06/06/13 02:19 PM 06/06/13 02:19 PM
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edl Offline OP
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ah

little conical rubber piece at the bottom?
Re: 66 Hemi Valve Cover Gasket [Re: edl] #1448426
06/06/13 02:31 PM 06/06/13 02:31 PM
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JohnRR Offline
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Quote:

ah

little conical rubber piece at the bottom?



No , the o ring is just that, an o ring, it's under the larger OD part at the top of the tube.
Re: 66 Hemi Valve Cover Gasket [Re: JohnRR] #1448427
06/06/13 02:33 PM 06/06/13 02:33 PM
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edl Offline OP
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got it!
Re: 66 Hemi Valve Cover Gasket [Re: edl] #1448428
06/06/13 02:41 PM 06/06/13 02:41 PM
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State of Fascism
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one other thing... I don't think it was mentioned.

NEVER.. let someone work on your HEMI engine if they haven't had first hand experience.
Re: 66 Hemi Valve Cover Gasket [Re: 52savoy] #1448429
06/06/13 02:42 PM 06/06/13 02:42 PM
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edl Offline OP
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good point! - of course, i've never worked on one...but i am planning on making an exception for myself! - i will go slow and ask lots of (dumb) questions like this thread
Re: 66 Hemi Valve Cover Gasket [Re: JohnRR] #1448430
06/07/13 02:19 AM 06/07/13 02:19 AM
Joined: Feb 2007
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NASHVILLE
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Quote:

It looks like the o rings are on those ...


Re: 66 Hemi Valve Cover Gasket [Re: 52savoy] #1448431
06/07/13 02:51 AM 06/07/13 02:51 AM
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NJ-USA
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HPMike Offline
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Quote:

one other thing... I don't think it was mentioned.

NEVER.. let someone work on your HEMI engine if they haven't had first hand experience.



Or ANY engine for that matter...

couple of things here...

make sure its actually the valve cover and not the block/head juncture..Very common to see oil leaks at the drainback holes(lower corners)..Many people are fooled by this thinking its the valve cover.

If you have to replace the gasket, get the one with the steel shim in between layers of gasket material..These will allow you to tigten the cover a bit more without distorting the gasket.

If you have the covers off and it has a solid cam in it, adjust the valves. Check the pushrods and make sure that they are getting properlly oiled.

As John said, prepare for a huge cloud of smoke when you restart the engine. I actually use the tube seals, even in stock builds. You'll never be able to properly read a plug unless you do. They intsall easy, just put them in the freezer beforehand to make them easier to dribe into the head.

Good Luck

MB
Re: 66 Hemi Valve Cover Gasket [Re: HPMike] #1448432
06/07/13 08:23 AM 06/07/13 08:23 AM
Joined: Nov 2010
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edl Offline OP
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good tips - thanks!

Re: 66 Hemi Valve Cover Gasket [Re: HPMike] #1448433
06/07/13 09:25 AM 06/07/13 09:25 AM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,252
Sebring, Florida
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Mopar Grandpa Offline
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Quote:

Quote:

one other thing... I don't think it was mentioned.

NEVER.. let someone work on your HEMI engine if they haven't had first hand experience.



Or ANY engine for that matter...

couple of things here...

make sure its actually the valve cover and not the block/head juncture..Very common to see oil leaks at the drainback holes(lower corners)..Many people are fooled by this thinking its the valve cover.

If you have to replace the gasket, get the one with the steel shim in between layers of gasket material..These will allow you to tigten the cover a bit more without distorting the gasket.


MB

I have a set of these gaskets if you need them. You can PM me for more info.
Re: 66 Hemi Valve Cover Gasket [Re: Mopar Grandpa] #1448434
06/07/13 01:20 PM 06/07/13 01:20 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
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Chilliwack B.C. Canada
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I don't bother to replace the O-rings, it will be obvious if they are leaking and need changing though. If I don't run the tube seals I spin the plugs loose with a socket and then feed some vacuum hose down that goes over the end of the plug to pull them up without disturbing the spark plug tubes, I install them the same way. You still leak a bit of oil into the combustion chamber but nothing to worry about and you can get a good look at the plugs this way.
I like the metal core VC gaskets as well and agree that the corner of the intake/head/block is a likely place for a leak.

Sheldon
Re: 66 Hemi Valve Cover Gasket [Re: edl] #1448435
06/07/13 03:15 PM 06/07/13 03:15 PM
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Bend,OR USA
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Quote:

yep...here they are

Mopar made several different versions of the OEM spark plug tubes, the ones in your picture are the later 1968 to 1971 OEM. The 1964 to 1967 have a shorter sealing lip on them, I think the shorter ones use a different O ring than the later tubes did also As far as the cork/rubber mix gaskets on stock cast iron heads versus the Felpro or other brand V.C. gaskets with the steel shims covered in Teflon or neopreme I would probally choose the cork/rubber over the Teflon neoprme covered steel shims gaskets I use the steel shim gaskest on motor with aluminum heads with a machined flat surface for the V.C. gaskets to seal against, those work great as long as I use a valve cover with a machined falt sealing surface on them Not so great on cast aluminum V.C. surfaces like the early M/T, Holley and Eddy cast aluminum V.C. made in Japan and Taiwan Sometimes what works good on one type does not work good on other type

Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
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