ALUMINUM VALVE COVER LEAKS

[383bee]

Richard - thank you for the tips.i feel a little better knowing I'm not alone.i have ordered some steel covers and what I hope are good gaskets.i'll let you know how it goes.david

[thebankerstoy]

Richard - thank you for the tips.i feel a little better knowing I'm not alone.i have ordered some steel covers and what I hope are good gaskets.i'll let you know how it goes.david

Cool David and you're welcome. I'll keep my fingers crossed that your new valve covers and gaskets will solve your problem.

My original style Direct Connection chromed stamped steel valve covers have been in place on my 440 in my 66 Coronet 500 since 1991 and they've given me zero leaking issues. The small block versions of these same valve covers have been on the 318 in my sons 72 Dart Swinger since 2005 and no issues with those either, so I've been very happy with them.

Richard



[URL="http://s146.photobucket.com/user/thebankerstoy/media/Ricks%201972%20Dart%20Swinger/Ricks1972DartSwinger-RichardTruesdellphoto-Jan200833-1.jpg.html"]

[/URL]

[4264door]

You can't beat steel valve covers for a street engine.

[ws27]

Richard, out of curiosity, what kind of gaskets are you using. I've been using felpro rubber, but I was wondering if they have come up with something better in the last 13 or so years since I've done one.

[67r/t4speeder]

http://chucker54.stores.yahoo.net/mopestcovaco.html

These and M/T aluminum covers on my truck 383 no leaks.

I imagine these will work real good with aluminum heads since they have a nice seal surface.

R/T has stock chrome covers with cork and it I get a couple drips by the time you do an oil change(3000) but not much plus the engine is old so it has some blow so that pretty good. Think I will get another set of these next time I remove the covers.

[thebankerstoy]

Richard, out of curiosity, what kind of gaskets are you using. I've been using felpro rubber, but I was wondering if they have come up with something better in the last 13 or so years since I've done one.

Hello Rich,

Like you, I haven't had to purchase valve cover gaskets for quite awhile, but the ones that I'm using on my 440 have worked well and are still available under Mopar Performance part #P4452091 and are a rubber reinforced cork design. They are listed in the latest Mopar Performance Parts Catalog as being for use with cast valve covers, but as I can vouch for, they also work very well with stamped steel valve covers as well. To avoid potential valve cover leaking issues, when I had all of the machine work done on my 1969 hp 440 for my Coronet back in 1990/1991, I had the machine shop check all of the engine block and cylinder head's mating surfaces to make sure that all were flat and true and that included the mating surfaces on the cylinder heads where the valve covers are attached and I'd highly recommend that anybody that is rebuilding their engine do the same thing if they plan on using any of the original factory cast iron Mopar cylinder heads.

If I needed to purchase valve cover gaskets these days, I'd go with another set of the same gaskets that I've been using for years without issues (P4452091), or I might try a set of the Mopar Performance part #P5155509, which are listed as being a "reusable" design and are probably very similar to the ones in Andy's link. I might also try a set of the Fel-Pro's if they were offered at the same price that I can get the Mopar Performances gaskets for from my friend at a local Dodge dealership, as being a member of the "cheap bastards club", I try to avoid pay retail prices for any of my parts if at all possible! .

Here's a picture of the Mopar Performance part #P4452091 gaskets.



Richard

[Hibbing_Coronet_500]

Those look just like the fel-pro. Thicker rubber coated reusable

[ws27]

Those look just like the fel-pro. Thicker rubber coated reusable

I agree here. Thanks Richard. It would be nice if someone would come out with a silicone gasket. That would guarantee to leaks.

[thebankerstoy]

Another item that I use on both my big and small block valve covers, are the load spreader mini tabs that are placed underneath each valve cover attaching bolt, or stud and nut assembly. The ones shown below are made by a company called Wysco Products Inc. and sold by their various distributors, so if interested, you can call Wysco at their toll free number 1-800-731-9972 and see where you can buy these mini tabs.

Below are links to both Wysco's home page and the page where these mini tabs are listed.

Home web page link: http://www.wysco.com/welcome.html8http://www.wysco.com/welcome.html00) 731-9972

Parts web page link: [URL="http://www.wysco.com/enginepartsacc.html"]http://www.wysco.com/enginepartsacc.html

[/URL]Wysco Part #WA9067
Mini Nut Tabs



You can see these mini tabs in place with bolts and washers on my 440.



and with studs, nuts and washers on my sons 318 in his Dart.



Richard

[markz]

I am a big fan of aluminum valve covers. Properly fit with a good gasket they are hands down the best.

Big issue I have found with many (but not all) is that the boss where the bolts go through is too high for a cast head and the sealing rail never compresses the gasket. One way to test for it is to install your cover with gasket but put strips of paper between the gasket and head (in the places it leaks). If it pulls out easily, you don't have proper sealing pressure.

On most (if not all) of my aluminum covers I have used over the years I have had to machine the bosses down - typically around 0.080". Worked like a charm with Felpro rubber gaskets. Glue one side to the cover with RTV (glue the gasket to the cover then put cover on a flat surface with weight on the cover till it dries - typically overnight). This way you can pull the covers off many times and the gasket reseals well if all is clean.

On the race car I o-ringed the covers because I take them off so much.

2065