tappet cover sealing secrets?

[Rollie���]

Just adjusted the valves on the new motor and mocked up the tappet covers with the Felpro rubber gaskets and it looks like a leak waiting to happen. Is there

a trick to get the rubber gaskets not to leak?

[48mirage]

Hylomar

[Don Coatney]

Just adjusted the valves on the new motor and mocked up the tappet covers with the Felpro rubber gaskets and it looks like a leak waiting to happen. Is there

a trick to get the rubber gaskets not to leak?

The trick I used was to toss them and replace them with cork gaskets.

[Young Ed]

Ditto for us too.

[Joe Flanagan]

I got mine with a full gasket kit from Vintage Power Wagons. They're rubber, I believe. These will leak?

[Young Ed]

Joe for the few bucks it'll cost ya I'd consider switching. I show 8.29 from napa felpro part # FPG VS4253R

http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Detail.aspx?R=FPGVS4253R_0165567745#

[Joe Flanagan]

Thanks, Ed. As it turns out, I'm going to NAPA this morning.

[Rollie���]

I ordered the felpro part # FPG VS4253R from Napa, they are rubber.

[Young Ed]

Dang they sure looked like cork in the picture. I wonder if the last R in the part number equals rubber? Rollie did you ask them to order them in cork?

[Rollie���]

In hindsight it seems the R is for rubber and Ed, I just ordered over the phone with the part#. On Friday I'll see if they can get cork.

[TodFitch]

The valve cover gaskets are just about the easiest ones on the engine to make from a sheet of gasket material. Mostly long straight cuts, no bolt holes, etc. So if you really don't like the pre-made ones, just buy a sheet of gasket material of the type you want.

[aero3113]

I used rubber ones and they sealed up fine for me.

[Joe Flanagan]

The valve cover gaskets are just about the easiest ones on the engine to make from a sheet of gasket material. Mostly long straight cuts, no bolt holes, etc. So if you really don't like the pre-made ones, just buy a sheet of gasket material of the type you want.

I made gaskets for my water pump a couple of days ago and that was kind of a challenge. Lots of curves and holes. It does look like the valve cover gaskets wouldn't be too bad to fabricate.

[Rollie���]

All I could find was rubber gaskets (didn't search too long), end up making a set

out of cork on my own.

Thanks guys.

[PatrickG]

keep in mind that at least for the 218/230, there is no actual oil passage going into the valve/lifter galley (is that what its called?) Oil apparently just sort of steams/splashes up in there.

So since its not like oil is just sloshing around behind those valve covers, I wouldn't expect those gasket to have to work very hard.

But what do I know

[bob westphal]

If you won't be adjusting you valves for a long time I would use Permatex Right Stuff to seal the gaskets. This stuff never leaks.

Bob

[RobertKB]

The problem with the tappet covers is people do the bolts up too tight and you can then warp the edges which can lead to leaks. Make sure everything is straight, use a good gasket sealer, and don't overtighten the bolts. You should be good to go with no leak. There are also small circular gaskets that go under the bolts as well to stop any leak there.

[Don Coatney]

It has been my experiance that one of the bigest causes of valve cover leakage is the oil return ports are plugged up. If these ports are not open oil will stay in the area behind the valve covers and not free fall back to the crankcase. Make sure the ports are open. These ports are located in the bottom of the valve spring compartment as pictured.