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Is there a secret to a leak free valve cover gasket? #758633
07/26/10 06:31 PM
07/26/10 06:31 PM
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Posts: 153
Georgia
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wh23g3g Offline OP
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wh23g3g  Offline OP
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Georgia
My valve covers are original pieces and they look ok. But on the passenger side I keep getting an annoying drip right ontop of the manifold. I've changed it once and it still leaks but not in that area anymore. I used the extra gasket I had in my engine gasket kit from Fel-Pro KS2110 I think. They are the rubber coated fiber gaskets. The one that I took off was already brittle and I haven't even driven it yet, still doing adjustments. The other side doesn't leak. What's the best 400 valve cover gasket you can get to insure a leak free valve cover? I considered the Mopar performance black wrinkle valve covers but I want to run my oil cap and breather element on the passenger side and the PCV on the other side. I believe the Mopar valve covers only have one hole each side. Does anyone make new valve covers with the holes for the OEM breather, oil cap, and pcv?

Re: Is there a secret to a leak free valve cover gasket? [Re: wh23g3g] #758634
07/26/10 07:22 PM
07/26/10 07:22 PM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,075
Eastern Ohio
mopowergtx Offline
master
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Eastern Ohio
Is this on a 400 with stock non-HP manifolds? The pass. side manifold is a gasket burning nightmare if so. They are way to dang close the valve cover. Did you try the black Mopar gaskets yet? Make sure the valve cover is nice and flat too. They tend to get overtightened over the years and warp the gasket surface. I use the orange high temp silicone on the valve cover side and wheel bearing grease on the head side. Best I have come up with so far.

Re: Is there a secret to a leak free valve cover gasket? [Re: mopowergtx] #758635
07/27/10 06:54 AM
07/27/10 06:54 AM
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 408
Lexington NC
twinscrew698 Offline
mopar
twinscrew698  Offline
mopar

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Lexington NC
U might want to look into these!
More expensive but i heard worth the money! No adhesive needed!
http://www.cometic.com/domesticauto.aspx

Re: Is there a secret to a leak free valve cover gasket? [Re: twinscrew698] #758636
07/27/10 09:35 AM
07/27/10 09:35 AM
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Posts: 388
Southington, Ohio
dm69charger Offline
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dm69charger  Offline
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Southington, Ohio
You can still use the black wrinkle valve covers made by mopar for the pvc etc. As you noted their are two holes (one on each cover), but the valve cover has a provision for an additional hole (one on each cover). All you have to do is flip the cover over and knock out the additional hole. Not difficult at all to do.

Not sure on the gaskets though!! I hope someone makes a good gasket soon. Maybe one with the steel shim in the middle.

Re: Is there a secret to a leak free valve cover gasket? [Re: dm69charger] #758637
07/27/10 09:38 AM
07/27/10 09:38 AM
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places
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79powerwagon Offline
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It's the same as a 727 pan gasket. If it's new and it leaks, you've over-torqued it. Use Locktite on the screw threads and torque them ONLY to factory specs (after you've made sure the covers are still straight and true) and leave it alone!

Re: Is there a secret to a leak free valve cover gasket? [Re: dm69charger] #758638
07/27/10 04:58 PM
07/27/10 04:58 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,707
Moved to N.E. Tennessee
GomangoCuda Offline
master
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Quote:


Not sure on the gaskets though!! I hope someone makes a good gasket soon. Maybe one with the steel shim in the middle.




Like this? http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MOR-93055/


In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is.
Re: Is there a secret to a leak free valve cover gasket? [Re: mopowergtx] #758639
07/27/10 05:35 PM
07/27/10 05:35 PM
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Southaven, MS
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BossRide Offline
top fuel
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Southaven, MS
Quote:

Is this on a 400 with stock non-HP manifolds? The pass. side manifold is a gasket burning nightmare if so. They are way to dang close the valve cover.




If this is the case, and you are not concerned with 100% correctness, maybe make or find a small heat shield of some sort and put on the manifold bolts as a barrier between the heat and the valve cover?


The Blue Goose

My instagram: Bossride
Re: Is there a secret to a leak free valve cover gasket? [Re: wh23g3g] #758640
07/27/10 05:41 PM
07/27/10 05:41 PM
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Posts: 177
NC
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Sixt8Chrgr Offline
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Sixt8Chrgr  Offline
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NC
I have had the same problem with my 68 Charger. Changed the stock valve covers with polished aluminum Mopar Performance models. The new ones leaked like a West Texas oil well. I was so pissed I did not leave well enough alone. But have had good luck plugging the geyser with NAPA Anerobic Gasket Maker. It is expensive but works well. A tube big enough to do both valve covers is $17.00

Good Luck

Re: Is there a secret to a leak free valve cover gasket? [Re: Sixt8Chrgr] #758641
07/27/10 05:54 PM
07/27/10 05:54 PM
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Florida
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scratchnfotraction Offline
I Live Here
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Florida
my 78 motor home 440 VC has a heat sheild tac welded to it

I used the felpro thick black ones,kinda hard to get it to compress some though

also used a thin coat of copper rtv on both side of gasket,put them on,torqued it down good,let cure over night

no leaks yet,but have not run it very long so far its been 6 mounths and no leaks

I also droped the log manny on the pass side for a center dump

they are both very close to the vc edge,I hope the hold up for a while

did the copper rtv on the sb truck also,never leaked so far in 4-5 yrs they been on there

I use the copper rtv on the manny and head suface with no gasket,no leaks there either

clean it all good with brake clean first

and LET IT CURE OVERNIGHT

Re: Is there a secret to a leak free valve cover gasket? [Re: wh23g3g] #758642
07/27/10 07:03 PM
07/27/10 07:03 PM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 707
California
BigDaddy440 Offline
super stock
BigDaddy440  Offline
super stock

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Posts: 707
California

In my opinion the problem is the newer valve covers on older cast heads. The cast heads (906 etc) have imperfections, and he newer valve covers are so ridged, they do not form to head at all.

I think most Edelbrock head owners will agree they don't have leaky valve covers.

I found that a good quality cork gasket worked better than rubber on a cast head. If you have a standard no maintenance camshaft / valve train, consider using a little RTV.

-dan


1969 A12 Roadrunner
1970 Plymouth Cuda
1968 Dodge Dart
Re: Is there a secret to a leak free valve cover gasket? [Re: BigDaddy440] #758643
07/27/10 08:55 PM
07/27/10 08:55 PM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 824
NH
72challorange Offline
He's Game
72challorange  Offline
He's Game

Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 824
NH
I use cork gaskets gorilla snotted to the valve cover. Do not over tighten.

Tom

Many miles no leaks been on and off at least a half dozen times.

Re: Is there a secret to a leak free valve cover gasket? [Re: 72challorange] #758644
07/27/10 11:39 PM
07/27/10 11:39 PM
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 153
Georgia
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wh23g3g Offline OP
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wh23g3g  Offline OP
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Georgia
I'm running correct 73HP manifolds. And the passenger side manifold is right next to the edge of the valve cover. I'm just using the rubber coated fiber valve covers that came in the Fel-Pro kit. I would definitely consider the black wrinkle Mopar Performance valve covers because they seem to have been accepted as stock. But I thought people usually put those on a newly rebuilt motor more for better sealing than looks. I know these original valve covers have been tightened and overtightened over the years. I like that Moroso gasket Summit shows on the link provided. Good thing is they're less than an hour away and hopefully they have them in stock as well as the valve covers. I hate oil leaks at all, even a little seapage. Luckikly my oil pan, rear main, and crank seal isn't leaking. You said I could use the Mopar performance black valve covers and they have a punch out for the second hole on the back? Do I have to take them to a machine shop and have them machine it open or is it something I can do? Another thing I noticed that was original that I'm missing is the two studs on each head for the valve cover gasket to be placed on. According to the Mopar parts catalog there should be two studs on the bottom corners to hold the gasket in place. Yes also my 727 pan gasket is leaking. So I bought a new pan this week too.

Re: Is there a secret to a leak free valve cover gasket? [Re: wh23g3g] #758645
08/04/10 12:41 AM
08/04/10 12:41 AM
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 153
Georgia
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wh23g3g Offline OP
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wh23g3g  Offline OP
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Georgia
Ok I bought the black wrinkle Mopar Performance valve covers this weekend. I got the grommets specified by Year One yesterday for the PCV and breather. Now do I need to take these to a machine shop to open up the breather and pcv grommet holes or is it something I can take to any kind of repair shop to do? These are a lot taller than the original ones, I hope they clear on the passenger side with the original fuel line right at the corner. I got the Mr. Gasket Ultra Seal valve cover gaskets that say they are reuseable, but I doubt it once I put it on this motor. I wanted the Mopar Performance red ones but no one had them. The Moroso blue Perma-Align gaksets only fit Moroso valve covers so the guy wouldn't sell them to me. The Mr. Gasket was the best one I could find. I opted for all studs and nuts over the recommended screws from Mopar Performance. I hate putting these on there but if it will seal then it's ok. They sure don't like they'll warp as easily as the original steel ones.

Re: Is there a secret to a leak free valve cover gasket? [Re: wh23g3g] #758646
08/04/10 01:49 AM
08/04/10 01:49 AM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 324
anacortes,wa
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78asprin Offline
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78asprin  Offline
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anacortes,wa
Good luck with it clearing the manifold. We tried to put a set on my Dads Challenger (440 4bbl) and it hit the HP manifold and would not seal. Maybe we were doing something wrong? But if it does end up working, its damn close

Re: Is there a secret to a leak free valve cover gasket? [Re: 78asprin] #758647
08/04/10 09:08 AM
08/04/10 09:08 AM
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Posts: 4,503
NJ
4
440challenger Offline
master
440challenger  Offline
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NJ
I could of sworn i just knocked out the hole from the inside with a punch.

Re: Is there a secret to a leak free valve cover gasket? [Re: 440challenger] #758648
08/04/10 11:23 AM
08/04/10 11:23 AM
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Posts: 387
n/w, PA
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demonH1B Offline
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n/w, PA

These heat shields help some, if you don't need
the show car correctness. Mopar made these in
the mid 70's to keep manifold heat off of the
vc's & gaskets. P/N 4095786, I think they are
still available.

6122148-IM000684.JPG (571 downloads)
Re: Is there a secret to a leak free valve cover gasket? [Re: demonH1B] #758649
08/04/10 11:24 AM
08/04/10 11:24 AM
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Posts: 387
n/w, PA
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demonH1B Offline
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n/w, PA

one more

6122150-IM000685.JPG (451 downloads)
Re: Is there a secret to a leak free valve cover gasket? [Re: demonH1B] #758650
08/04/10 12:32 PM
08/04/10 12:32 PM
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,589
My Garage / Museum
idrivevintage Offline
Chrysler Plant
idrivevintage  Offline
Chrysler Plant

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My Garage / Museum
Quote:


one more




Yes! Those are awesome, I got a set from a friend a few years ago and havent had problems yet. This is on a daily driven 66' Coronet with a 361 that I added 68' hp manifolds to. I was told that they were used on the police package cars.

Also if you cut the tabs off the gaskets that may help. They act as wicks for the heat to travel in and burn up your gaskets.

Good luck with those valve covers. They didn't seem to line up right for a friend but he eventually got them on. Just use a block of wood to straighten up your original covers and you'll be fine


Good luck with getting it sealed up

Re: Is there a secret to a leak free valve cover gasket? [Re: idrivevintage] #758651
08/04/10 10:31 PM
08/04/10 10:31 PM
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 153
Georgia
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wh23g3g Offline OP
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Georgia
That's not what I wanted to hear about them not fitting. The only issue I can see is with the original Thermoquad fuel line to the carb, it goes right over the corver of the original valve cover. I would most definitely like to use my original valve covers because it has all the correct looms made on it, but they must be warped because of the leaking on the passenger side. If there was a sure shot way of flattening them I might use them. But until then I'll try this Mopar ones because they definitely are much more rigid and don't look like they'll warp. I didn't realize the pop outs for the breather and pcv grommets were both up front for the passenger side valve cover. So it will look weird with the oil cap in the back and the breather up front. I'm going to need some kind of really flexible hose to connect to the air cleaner. The 5/8" heater hose I use is already kinking.

Re: Is there a secret to a leak free valve cover gasket? [Re: wh23g3g] #758652
08/04/10 11:04 PM
08/04/10 11:04 PM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
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scratchnfotraction Offline
I Live Here
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Florida
like said a piece of wood 2x4 and a hammer will do wonders on the over torqued bolt holes and flange of vc

light taps with a small hammer will straightn the puckerd holes back flat when done from the gasket side of the cover

done many this way over the yrs to get them to seal

when you install them wipe head and Vc down with brake clean to remove oil film,then air dry with airgun,then use the copper rtv thin coat on both side of the gasket,put on finger tight and then snug with a 1/4" hand drive after 20 mins

let cure over night..works every time for me this way

the sb has had no leaks since 07 when I worked them last time,they are 68 VC that i have had on 5-6 engines over the yrs

the BB vc in the sig pic i reworked march last yr and no leaks,the center dumps are tight at the edge of VC also been milled for warpage,and are supper close

thick black felpro gasket/copper rtv on them

good luck with the alum VC


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