Valve covers are cursed!

[ackland3]

I swear i'm cursed new rear main new oil pan gasket and neither one of those seem to leak but i've got oil from my new valve cover gaskets! I just tightened them up and no oil for a while then go to the car wash and BOOM oil again  Any tips for fixing it once and for all? Then un related I saw a guy with a 350 unchecked for a hundred bucks how much to have it checked for warps etc? Or is there a way to do it myself?

[Burkhalter]

I would probably clean it up then watch it closely to try and see where at it is failing. Then take it apart and look at the gasket. Does it have signs of being over torqued? If it is a cork gasket they can split out easily if over torqued. could the top outer rim of the head be damaged?

[timthescarrd]

Are you sure it's from the valve cover gaskets and not the intake manifold gasket?

[bcstingray]

I switched to the rubber with steel insert reusable valve cover gaskets and oil pan gasket. You could use Permatex gear oil silicone, it's gray in color and cost around $11. I have used it everywhere there is oil, whether it's gear oil or motor oil. seals great.

[philo_beddoe]

I had a persistant small leak, was able to pinpoint, and ran a tiny thin bead of rtv under the vc lip.  But first you must clean good!! Use a good degreaser and an old toothbrush and scrub under the lip, then a clean rag to dry it. It worked well for me, but you must pinpoint the leak.

[ackland3]

I think it's a valve cover exhaust manifold has burnt oil and its on the side of the block above the most rear spark plug it seems unless my new rear main is it but I doubt it it looks like it's coming from above tempted to tear off manifolds to be able to see better

[80Chevy4x4]

Ok first question....what type of valve covers do you have...Steel or aluminum?   If steel get the valve cover spreaders( the ones that are are about 2 inches long that each one goes on a valve cover bolt.

[ackland3]

Already got those and the thicker gaskets stick covers

[80Chevy4x4]

i ended up going with aluminum covers on mine....got tired of even just a small leak.

[Manriquez]

Are you sure it's from the valve cover gaskets and not the intake manifold gasket?

yeah, sometimes even the cheap aftermaket intake leaks like crazy too.

I'm not recommending this but I found the only way for me to get the old bent steel valve covers to seal was using contact adhesive (neoprene) It creates a mess though when you need to remove the valve cover, so again I'm not recommending this unless it is the last option

[ackland3]

I think i'm going to try and get those rubber ones with steel inserts try that then rent a power washer and clean the whole thing in the driveway drive it a day or two and see what happens. which intake manifold gaskets are for a stock manifold from oreilly's?

[Manriquez]

Just saw the part on the 350: if it was me and if it spin freely, if there is no oily dirt on the exhaust (or something trying to find its way thru the block) I would run away with the engine in a minute.

If the engine has carburetor, plugs, plug wires and distributor, it should be easy to make it run to see if it smokes or have a bad noise (even if you have to bring a battery + starter and some gas).


regards
Pedro

[ackland3]

its completely abre other than heads and valve covers

Just saw the part on the 350: if it was me and if it spin freely, if there is no oily dirt on the exhaust (or something trying to find its way thru the block) I would run away with the engine in a minute.

If the engine has carburetor, plugs, plug wires and distributor, it should be easy to make it run to see if it smokes or have a bad noise (even if you have to bring a battery + starter and some gas).


regards
Pedro

[ackland3]

Has anyone switched to the wing nuts instead of the studs? how bad is it to swap them out saw some at the parts store just wondering if it'd be viable last time i messed with the covers i remember the old nuts being a bit rounded

[enaberif]

I always enjoy these "cursed valve cover threads" lol.

I have a set of cheap China valve covers on my truck that cost me a whopping $25 and they do not leak a single bit.

What did I do? Well I made sure the flange area for the gasket on the valve covers was NOT smooth and was roughed up. I then took acetone and a few rags and made sure the cylinder head surface was plenty clean.

Then after all that I put the gaskets on, valve cover on and then placed my spread bars on and then tightened down my t-bar nuts.

Not a single drop in the entire year since the rebuild.