Today’s project

[Phx Mike]

Fixing a small valve cover leak. Valve train looked good.

[FWB]

couple of those pushrods look like they may be rubbing the intake, it may be just the angle of the pic, worth a look though

[Phx Mike]

Yes saw that and a couple are real close but just clear.

[Phx Mike]

Well 3rd time is the charm. Got it sealed up finally. Key points:

- Cast aluminum covers and made sure the flanges were flat and smooth (dressed them with a flat stone to get some small burrs off the inside edges) and absolutely clean (final wipe with 96 pct isopropyl).
- sealed the FelPro cork/rubber gasket to the cover using Permatex gasket SEALER (not Silicone or RTV gasket MAKER). Used a very thin coat and clothes-pinned the gasket to the cover for about 20 mins before installing the cover. Did NOT put sealant on the head side of the gasket.
- put a small smear of same sealant on the heads at the intake / head joint. My intake is installed with RTV (no gasket) but sits a bit higher than the head so there is a small step there. I am pretty sure this is where it was leaking. So I put a bit of sealant on the heads over and around that joint. Sealant on the heads about 1/2 inch each side of the joint
- then installed the cover - while the sealant was still wet. Torqued it tighter this time - maybe 10 ft lbs. Tightened the bolts in star pattern 1/4 turn at a time until they were all on 1 full turn past first contact. They are snug. I would not tighten the sheet metal ones that much but these seemed to do fine.

Drove it 50 or so miles today and dry....

[2bars]

I'll save your note of your fix just in case

[Phx Mike]

If yours starts leaking just let me know - I have an extra gasket and will come over and do it for you!

I also ordered some cool looking “cork on one side and neoprene rubber on the other side” ones that have not arrived yet from Summit so we have those as a backup....