Better Solution For Leaking Valve Covers?

[f1gp]

I just bought a 72 Chevy truck with a 350 v8 and the valve covers are leaking like crazy.

Has anyone (factory or aftermarket) designed either a better cover or gasket?

 

And speaking of gaskets what is the story with silicone gaskets, I heard them talking about them on a car show but was not sure why they were being used, was it because the silicone is better at handling the high heat as apposed to rubber, cork gaskets, and then ther are the cork/rubber combo.

 

Thanks for any help.

[Zembonez]

Cast aluminum valve covers work a lot better than the stamped steel variety. Overtightening a cork gasket will kill it (making it leak like hell). Silicon or rubber type gaskets work pretty well.

 

On our high rpm hotrod motors, we use Jeg's silicon and aluminum covers. No leaks.

[pennzoil29]

Cast aluminum valve covers work a lot better than the stamped steel variety. Overtightening a cork gasket will kill it (making it leak like hell). Silicon or rubber type gaskets work pretty well.

 

On our high rpm hotrod motors, we use Jeg's silicon and aluminum covers. No leaks.

 

+1. The old cork gaskets worked fine, unless, you tightened them down to tight. Damn, I miss my '72.

[Joe Thomas]

The later model OEM valvecovers came with a wider spreader bar under the mounting bolts. This new design spread the clamping action along a wider surface. It is also made of cast steel instead of stamped steel. You may locate the newer design in a junk yard or on the internet and replace the smaller bars on your 1972 version.

[Tucson_02Silverado]

Fel-Pro PermaDry Plus gaskets and use wide spreader bars on each of the 4 bolts. I forgot the torque for the bolts, I think it's only 5-7inLbs (INCH POUNDS, not Foot)

 

It's been awhile since i've worked on a genI SBC, but I think the Fel-Pro PermaDry Plus VS12869T comes with spreader bars. They are pricey at around $35 at Autozone, but no floppy cork, no minimal tacking for mounting, and they completely solved the oil spots in the driveway.

[nhproxr]

I've got a set of Edlebrock aluminum covers with fel-pro cork gaskets glued to them on the 327 in my Nova. Been on/off several times and used on 2 different engines...never leak a drop.

[mcreyaufmiller]

I use all felpro stuff on my engines, no problems. But again, do not overtighten.