Replacing leaky valve cover gaskets on my 85 K20 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

DetroitIron · 09-04-2010, 07:54 PM

Any suggestions for type of valve cover gasket to use or advice on whether any special prep to the gasket or cover is needed? Thanks for any suggestions. btw- I was suprised how many vacumn lines, left over smog hoses,etc. needed to be moved to pull the cover...just took my time and kept telling myself how much $$ I'm saving by doing it myself.

Restrorob · 09-04-2010, 08:52 PM

Fel-Pro gaskets with a light film of

THIS applied with your finger will help seal them. Make sure the cover screws weren't over tightened and cone shaped the hole, If so lightly tap them back down flat with a small hammer.

DetroitIron · 09-04-2010, 09:13 PM

Thanks very much....Appreciate the info.

mooseknuckles · 09-04-2010, 09:27 PM

clean the head and valve cover real good, use fell-pro gaskets and glue the gaskets to the valve cover only with 3m weatherstip adhesive. do not over-tighten.

truckerboy · 09-04-2010, 11:28 PM

Use Fel-pro or Mr. Gasket and clean the rocker cover and head good. make sure to either get a shop manual or the torque settings from the parts house that you get the gasket from.

One thing you may run into is to get rubber or cork. I usually choose cork as in my experiance it seals better than the rubber. Also, cork has better thermal expansion than rubber does.

54Caddy · 09-05-2010, 11:01 AM

i am running these ones here. As it says no need for silicon just make the head and the valve cover base clean so there is no debris and they work great not one leak yet. I tend to lean towards "You Get What You Pay For"
Valve Cover Gaskets

DetroitIron · 09-07-2010, 10:56 AM

Thanks all....Felpro rocks...so nice to open hood and not smell oil burning on manifolds/see smoke. Now if I can just solve my small oil leak somewhere on the rear side of the engine (passenger side).

Adams74Chevy · 09-07-2010, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DetroitIron

Thanks all....Felpro rocks...so nice to open hood and not smell oil burning on manifolds/see smoke.

...Or sitting at a stop light or stop sign and the guy next to you looks nervous because of the smoke plume coming out from under the hood.

09-04-2010, 07:54 PM	#1
DetroitIron Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Hudsonville, MI Posts: 174	Replacing leaky valve cover gaskets on my 85 K20 Any suggestions for type of valve cover gasket to use or advice on whether any special prep to the gasket or cover is needed? Thanks for any suggestions. btw- I was suprised how many vacumn lines, left over smog hoses,etc. needed to be moved to pull the cover...just took my time and kept telling myself how much $$ I'm saving by doing it myself. __________________ _______________________________________________ 1985 Chevy Scottsdale K20 350 with 700R4 running 3.42 gearing aka "The Honey Badger" 1993 Silverado C3500 Ext. Cab Dually 6.5 turbo diesel

09-04-2010, 08:52 PM	#2
Restrorob The One And Only !!! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hole in the woods Florida Posts: 4,567	Re: Replacing leaky valve cover gaskets on my 85 K20 Fel-Pro gaskets with a light film of THIS applied with your finger will help seal them. Make sure the cover screws weren't over tightened and cone shaped the hole, If so lightly tap them back down flat with a small hammer. __________________ 93 Jeep XJ 88 Buick La Sabra Toys; 88 TA-GTA in the works.... 97 GMC Ext. Cab 502 Crate 5 Spd......Sucks Gas But Haulz Azz ! The primary function of an Engineer is to make it difficult for the Fabricator and impossible for the Mechanic. *"Why go out preserved when you can go out beat up, worn out, sliding in sideways screaming, Holy Sh!t What A Ride" !!!*

09-04-2010, 09:13 PM	#3
DetroitIron Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Hudsonville, MI Posts: 174	Re: Replacing leaky valve cover gaskets on my 85 K20 Thanks very much....Appreciate the info. __________________ _______________________________________________ 1985 Chevy Scottsdale K20 350 with 700R4 running 3.42 gearing aka "The Honey Badger" 1993 Silverado C3500 Ext. Cab Dually 6.5 turbo diesel

09-04-2010, 09:27 PM	#4
mooseknuckles Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: ottawa,canada Posts: 4,550	Re: Replacing leaky valve cover gaskets on my 85 K20 clean the head and valve cover real good, use fell-pro gaskets and glue the gaskets to the valve cover only with 3m weatherstip adhesive. do not over-tighten.

09-04-2010, 11:28 PM	#5
truckerboy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: madison,nc Posts: 67	Re: Replacing leaky valve cover gaskets on my 85 K20 Use Fel-pro or Mr. Gasket and clean the rocker cover and head good. make sure to either get a shop manual or the torque settings from the parts house that you get the gasket from. One thing you may run into is to get rubber or cork. I usually choose cork as in my experiance it seals better than the rubber. Also, cork has better thermal expansion than rubber does. __________________ 79 K20,400 SBC, TBI, 4 speed w/ super low, 4.88's. 89 K2500. 350 TBI, mild cam, longtube hooker headers, glasspack true duals, TH700R4 with shift kit, Corp. 14 10.25'' full float, with 4.11:1 gears, standard ifs cranked to 2 inch lift. RS5000 shocks. 96 f350, Powerstroke, ZF6, DRW, 4x4. .Real trucks have 3 peddles. Real drivers float gears!!

09-05-2010, 11:01 AM	#6
54Caddy GM Addicted Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Visalia, Ca Posts: 2,294	Re: Replacing leaky valve cover gaskets on my 85 K20 i am running these ones here. As it says no need for silicon just make the head and the valve cover base clean so there is no debris and they work great not one leak yet. I tend to lean towards "You Get What You Pay For" Valve Cover Gaskets __________________ ..Mac’s Garage.. 73 GMC, 54 Caddy, 2010 Silverado, 68 C10 RIP DAd My 73 GMC Truck Build Pic 2010 Silverado 4/6 on 24s IG:MacsGarage

09-07-2010, 10:56 AM	#7
DetroitIron Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Hudsonville, MI Posts: 174	Re: Replacing leaky valve cover gaskets on my 85 K20 Thanks all....Felpro rocks...so nice to open hood and not smell oil burning on manifolds/see smoke. Now if I can just solve my small oil leak somewhere on the rear side of the engine (passenger side). __________________ _______________________________________________ 1985 Chevy Scottsdale K20 350 with 700R4 running 3.42 gearing aka "The Honey Badger" 1993 Silverado C3500 Ext. Cab Dually 6.5 turbo diesel



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