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Big Block Valve Covers #587675 01/19/10 04:10 PM 01/19/10 04:10 PM
Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 10 Fresno, California M msanchi OP member
msanchi OP member M Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 10 Fresno, California	I have A mild 440 in my 70 Challenger and I am having problems getting the valve covers to seal or stay sealed. I have a set of hand me down Mopar Performance cast black covers on it now and they will not seal. I am now using the good ARP bolts and the Moroso blue gaskets and they still leak. The bolts keep getting lose. I am looking for suggestions on new valve covers or what may be going wrong. I have looked at a few fabricated valve covers and am strongly thinking about the KMJs for the money. billet 1/4 flanges. Thanks for the help.

Re: Big Block Valve Covers [Re: msanchi] #587676 01/19/10 04:14 PM 01/19/10 04:14 PM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska R RapidRobert Circle Track
RapidRobert Circle Track R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska	Maybe a good drop of blue loctite on the threads would keep em tight live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth

Re: Big Block Valve Covers [Re: msanchi] #587677 01/19/10 04:14 PM 01/19/10 04:14 PM
A Anonymous Unregistered
Anonymous Unregistered A	Ive had good luck with the cork/rubber gasket and have used Indian Head gasket compound on both sides of the gasket without any leaks. I also put some med. strength loktite on the bolts to keep them from backing out. Tighten them down snug with a 1/4" drive nut driver or lightly torque them down with a 1/4" rachet.

Re: Big Block Valve Covers [Re: ] #587678 01/19/10 04:23 PM 01/19/10 04:23 PM
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 18,160 Mass DAYCLONA I Live Here
DAYCLONA I Live Here Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 18,160 Mass	I like to use the Fel-Pro cork/rubber, CLEAN HEAD and I spray glue the gasket to the head with 3M SUPER77 spray glue, heavy coat, I spray glue the gaskets to the head so that I can remove the covers for valve adjustments, and not worry about the gasket after it has "cycled" in size due to heat, slipping under the cover, causeing a leak when I remove the cover, never had a leak in over 5 yrs, tighten the bolts hand tight, do not overtighten

Re: Big Block Valve Covers [Re: DAYCLONA] #587679 01/19/10 05:31 PM 01/19/10 05:31 PM
Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 8,911 Ontario, Canada S Stanton Don't question me!
Stanton Don't question me! S Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 8,911 Ontario, Canada	I'd be cluing the gasket to the v/c and not the head. When you do have to remove the gasket its a lot easier cleaning the bits out of a v/c than out of the engine !!! I think those MP v/c's are known to be leakers. Billet flanges don't mean squat. Thickness and flatness are what matters. Once the sheetmetal is welded to the flange all the strength will come from it, not the flange. But the whole flange has to be FLAT.

Re: Big Block Valve Covers [Re: Stanton] #587680 01/19/10 05:55 PM 01/19/10 05:55 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,199 M MoreParts super stock
MoreParts super stock M Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,199	I wish I could remember the part number, but Ma Mopar makes a gasket set for big block trucks that is a direct interchange with our cars. They are thicker and rubbery. I believe reusable too. I've been using them on my BB for many years with no problems.

Re: Big Block Valve Covers [Re: Stanton] #587681 01/19/10 06:08 PM 01/19/10 06:08 PM
Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 10 Fresno, California M msanchi OP member
msanchi OP member M Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 10 Fresno, California	Quote: I'd be cluing the gasket to the v/c and not the head. When you do have to remove the gasket its a lot easier cleaning the bits out of a v/c than out of the engine !!! I think those MP v/c's are known to be leakers. Billet flanges don't mean squat. Thickness and flatness are what matters. Once the sheetmetal is welded to the flange all the strength will come from it, not the flange. But the whole flange has to be FLAT. I have heard that they leak too, and now they have proved it. I have heard the gasket to the VC is good with some gasket sealant too. feel like i wasted money on these expensive reusable Moroso ones.It seems like the cork is the way to go The big question than is do i use these VC or does anyone suggest a set they have had good luck with. 3 sets later and leaks from hell are getting old on a new motor. Note I do have and adjustable rocker setup so the VC may need to come off and on now and then. 1970 Dodge Challenger Project (440, 915 Heads, 727 Trans)

Re: Big Block Valve Covers [Re: msanchi] #587682 01/19/10 06:12 PM 01/19/10 06:12 PM
Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 21,318 Manitoba, Canada DaytonaTurbo Too Many Posts
DaytonaTurbo Too Many Posts Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 21,318 Manitoba, Canada	I run the hard/thick felpro valve cover gaskets. I ran a good thick bead of rtv along my valve cover flange, plaged the gasket on the table and put the valve cover on top so the rtv could dry the gasket to the cover while being on a flat surface. Seems to have worked pretty good so far. I could rtv both sides of the gasket, but that would make for one heck of a mess when it came time to pull a vc for whatever reason.

Re: Big Block Valve Covers [Re: DaytonaTurbo] #587683 01/19/10 06:48 PM 01/19/10 06:48 PM
Joined: May 2004 Posts: 4,920 Joplin, MO USA Robbins master
Robbins master Joined: May 2004 Posts: 4,920 Joplin, MO USA	My M/T's are leaking like crazy. I had those high dollar Moroso's and the M/T's cut them for what ever reason. So I went those hard black ones from Fel-pro and they are leaking now. 915 BB heads. Moparlee

Re: Big Block Valve Covers [Re: Robbins] #587684 01/19/10 06:53 PM 01/19/10 06:53 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,967 S.I. N.Y. 1MYTGTX master
1MYTGTX master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,967 S.I. N.Y.	My stock steel ones sweat as well......any one tried these yet? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayIS...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT 1MYTGTX

Re: Big Block Valve Covers [Re: 1MYTGTX] #587685 01/19/10 07:01 PM 01/19/10 07:01 PM
Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 10 Fresno, California M msanchi OP member
msanchi OP member M Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 10 Fresno, California	Those are basically the Moroso ones I have. http://chucker54.stores.yahoo.net/mopestcovaco.html They are said to be the best but i have done something wrong or my VC are shot. I have heard good things about the Indy VC but I don't know if they work w/o studs. Thinking about these by KMJ http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dodge-383...=item335930f2f5 Any thoughts? 1970 Dodge Challenger Project (440, 915 Heads, 727 Trans)

Re: Big Block Valve Covers [Re: msanchi] #587686 01/19/10 08:32 PM 01/19/10 08:32 PM
Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 8,911 Ontario, Canada S Stanton Don't question me!
Stanton Don't question me! S Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 8,911 Ontario, Canada	I've never had a v/c leak. The covers are old Cal Customs and the gaskets are plain thick cork - contact cemented to the v/c's. Maybe its time to look at the heads if no matter what you use leaks !!! Take them to a machine shop and have them mill the rails. It'll mean taking them apart but that's nothing you couldn't handle with a valve spring compressor. The Indy v/c's likely won't line up with your bolt holes - I have a set of 440Source cast covers and they fit stock heads but don't line up on my Indy's. Those v/c's on Ebay look like Proform's - just coated.

Re: Big Block Valve Covers [Re: Stanton] #587687 01/19/10 09:22 PM 01/19/10 09:22 PM
Joined: May 2003 Posts: 15,487 Florida S scratchnfotraction I Live Here
scratchnfotraction I Live Here S Joined: May 2003 Posts: 15,487 Florida	I used the thick black felpros with stock VC I glued the gasket with copper rtv and then put a thin bead on the head side I used some sb VC bolts with the triangle pull downs I had to crank on them kinda hard then finaly felt them crush a little let it cure over nigh..no leaks so far i tried them before on a sb and they leaked...but I was to crank down on them and swaped them for cork then was told you have to "feel" for it to crush some and they will seal dry.. result will vary

Re: Big Block Valve Covers [Re: msanchi] #587688 01/20/10 08:59 AM 01/20/10 08:59 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,412 E Central IN N nd65 pro stock
nd65 pro stock N Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,412 E Central IN	Set them on your heads with no gasket and make sure the flange is not touching your intake runners. I had this happen on my 360 with black MP covers and an Edelbrock RPM intake. I had to clearance the flange in a couple of spots as it touched the intake and did not fully seat to the head. Good luck

Re: Big Block Valve Covers [Re: DaytonaTurbo] #587689 01/20/10 11:35 AM 01/20/10 11:35 AM
Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 2,537 PORT ALBERNI , BC., CANADA superwrench master
superwrench master Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 2,537 PORT ALBERNI , BC., CANADA	Quote: I run the hard/thick felpro valve cover gaskets. I ran a good thick bead of rtv along my valve cover flange, plaged the gasket on the table and put the valve cover on top so the rtv could dry the gasket to the cover while being on a flat surface. Seems to have worked pretty good so far. I could rtv both sides of the gasket, but that would make for one heck of a mess when it came time to pull a vc for whatever reason. .....This is the ONLY way I can keep my aluminum covers on my race engine sealed up. I am using the orange gaskets from Mopar....NO MORE Moroso ones 'cause they split and leak along the headers . Silicone them to the covers and let them dry over night like said.

Re: Big Block Valve Covers [Re: superwrench] #587690 01/20/10 12:08 PM 01/20/10 12:08 PM
Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 189 Oklahoma L LXIXcharger member
LXIXcharger member L Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 189 Oklahoma	I had what I thought was a VC leak and it turned out to be the valley pan and hold down brackets. Leaked off the rear of the VC and that threw me off.

Re: Big Block Valve Covers [Re: LXIXcharger] #587691 01/20/10 12:14 PM 01/20/10 12:14 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 24,562 Brookeville, Md Mr.Yuck Not enough dumb comments...yet
Mr.Yuck Not enough dumb comments...yet Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 24,562 Brookeville, Md	rubber/cork work the best for me. That said if they are bent nothing is going to work. Also like mentioned above make sure it's not the valley pan that's leaking. [IMG]http://i66.tinypic.com/pui5j.jpg[/IMG] Coming soon!!!!

Re: Big Block Valve Covers [Re: Mr.Yuck] #587692 01/22/10 01:08 AM 01/22/10 01:08 AM
Joined: May 2005 Posts: 598 NC, USA D davenc mopar
davenc mopar D Joined: May 2005 Posts: 598 NC, USA	In my opinion, the black MP VC are too wide. This is true with RPM heads, and may also be true for stock heads. The "inner" edge of the sealing surface of the VC is very close to the "outer" edge of the lip on the head. This is why they cut the VC gasket. The sealing surface of the VC is also not smooth, and that makes for lots of little places for oil to find it way out over the top of the gasket. My solution (instead of getting better VC) was to get 1/4" VC spacers. I RTV'd the spacer to the VC, and then used the blue gasket dry. Assembled with very low torque, let the RTV set overnight, the torqued to 15in/lb the next day. This solved my persistent leaks and still allows easy removal for valve lash adjustments.

Re: Big Block Valve Covers [Re: davenc] #587693 01/22/10 07:57 AM 01/22/10 07:57 AM
Joined: May 2003 Posts: 15,487 Florida S scratchnfotraction I Live Here
scratchnfotraction I Live Here S Joined: May 2003 Posts: 15,487 Florida	make sure the alum VC is not hittin the itake..some need clearanced around the runners to torque down correctly

Re: Big Block Valve Covers [Re: davenc] #587694 01/22/10 11:57 AM 01/22/10 11:57 AM
Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 102 Virginia M MACDiesel member
MACDiesel member M Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 102 Virginia	Quote: In my opinion, the black MP VC are too wide. This is true with RPM heads, and may also be true for stock heads. The "inner" edge of the sealing surface of the VC is very close to the "outer" edge of the lip on the head. This is why they cut the VC gasket. The sealing surface of the VC is also not smooth, and that makes for lots of little places for oil to find it way out over the top of the gasket. My solution (instead of getting better VC) was to get 1/4" VC spacers. I RTV'd the spacer to the VC, and then used the blue gasket dry. Assembled with very low torque, let the RTV set overnight, the torqued to 15in/lb the next day. This solved my persistent leaks and still allows easy removal for valve lash adjustments. What do you mean by spacers? Do you use them like compression limiters around the studs? -1967 Belvedere II 440/4speed

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