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Re: What’s the best valve cover gasket
[Re: Sammy]
#2886269
02/10/21 11:33 AM
02/10/21 11:33 AM
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,916 usa
lewtot184
master
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master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,916
usa
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for a BB i use fel-pro 1610 siliconed to the valve cover with a thin layer of oil or grease on the head side of the gasket to allow for easier valve cover removal if maintenance is needed. doing this for many years.
Last edited by lewtot184; 02/10/21 06:23 PM.
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Re: What’s the best valve cover gasket
[Re: fastmark]
#2886435
02/10/21 04:58 PM
02/10/21 04:58 PM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,443 NW Chicago suburban area
Mopar Mitch
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,443
NW Chicago suburban area
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Just remember that rubber is NOT compressible ... it deforms ... and if it gets squeezed too much, then it splits apart. typically, rubber can only be squeezed no more than about 30% of its thickness, then it splits apart.
Cork-rubber material is truly "compressible" and forgives to some imperfections in mating surfaces. I favor the steel cored cork-rubber designs -- they hold their shape, offer compressibility and can be re-used a few times; no need for adhesives (always be careful when using RTV silicone -- too much and it will cause problems such as entering inside the engine, or acting as a slippery grease that allows the gasket to mis-align under compression/squeezing.
I'm a former gasket engineer from a major company and I wrote all the installation instructions.
Mopar Mitch
"Road racers and autocrossers go in deeper and come out harder!"... and rain never stops us from having fun with our cars... in fact, it makes us better drivers!
Check out MOPAR ACTION MAGAZINE, August 2006 issue for feature article and specs on my autocross T/A!
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Re: What’s the best valve cover gasket
[Re: fourgearsavoy]
#2891320
02/21/21 08:42 AM
02/21/21 08:42 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,569 Abilene, Texas
fastmark
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,569
Abilene, Texas
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Well, the Cometics did not work at all. Poured out like spilled coffee. In looking at these Stealth heads, I see a lot off residual oil in the heads. The path to the oil return is not as good as stock heads and the holes are much smaller for drainback. A good sealing gasket is going to be a must. The Carbon Superperformance have worked on two other stock head and valve cover builds. These Cometics did not fit the tin stock covers with a good seal. I’m going to put studs in the heads for better thread engagement and have ordered some Fel-Pro fiber/ rubber for some more squish on these surfaces. Hope that will work. Right stuff sealant on the VC side and I hope it will work.
I bought these Carbon x from Mancini. They did not recommend anything else. I guess I should have called the manufacturer.
Last edited by fastmark; 02/21/21 08:44 AM.
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Re: What’s the best valve cover gasket
[Re: lewtot184]
#2891753
02/22/21 08:20 AM
02/22/21 08:20 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,569 Abilene, Texas
fastmark
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,569
Abilene, Texas
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i've found that stock (factory) valve covers don't fit worth a crap on edelbrock heads and 440 source is kind of a copy. i did find that the summit (or proform) chrome covers work great and those with the fel-pro 1610 have worked well for me. oil drain back in these alum heads isn't as good as iron. i massage the drain back holes in the heads and have notched the block some to prevent ponding. The covers fit fine it’s just I have not got any kind of a seal. The Carbon X were so hard. Maybe they need heat to be compressed. Idk. Stock covers are my only option. My next build with these heads will have the drainback worked on.
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