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Valve Covers [message #88454]

Sun, 13 June 2010 19:36

Chr$

Messages: 2690
Registered: January 2004
Location: Scottsdale, AZ

Karma: 1

Senior Member

I popped off my leaky valve covers today. No gaskets. Just a thin line of RTV on the inside and outside edge of the mating surface.

No wonder they leaked. The RTV was crusty by the crossovers.

I realize this is common today, but did GM do this back in the 70's or do you guys think this was done by someone else. Was this another of GM's ahead of it's time engineering?

The Felpro set I got is nice and thick like the diesel pan gasket set, just without the metal.

What is everyone here doing?

-Chr$: Perpetual SmartAss
Scottsdale, AZ

77 Ex-Kingsley 455 SOLD!
2010 Nomad 24 Ft TT 390W PV W/MPPT, EV4010 and custom cargo door.
Photosite: Chrisc GMC:"It has Begun" TT: "The Other Woman"

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Re: Valve Covers [message #88458 is a reply to message #88454]

Sun, 13 June 2010 20:14

Ken Burton

Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana

Karma: 10

Senior Member

I used the thick rubber ones. They did not work well. About a year ago I switched to the two piece cork ones sandwiched around a piece of metal. They have worked great.

Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana

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Re: [GMCnet] Valve Covers [message #88460 is a reply to message #88454]

Sun, 13 June 2010 20:18

Dennis S

Messages: 3046
Registered: November 2005

Karma: 2

Senior Member

Chris,
I used Fel Pro silicone and metal valve cover gaskets -- limited use but seem great.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/FPP-1658/

Dennis Sexton
73 GMC
Germantown, TN
USA

-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Choffat <cchoffataz@yahoo.com>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Sun, Jun 13, 2010 7:36 pm
Subject: [GMCnet] Valve Covers

I popped off my leaky valve covers today. No gaskets. Just a thin line of RTV on
he inside and outside edge of the mating surface.
No wonder they leaked. The RTV was crusty by the crossovers.
I realize this is common today, but did GM do this back in the 70's or do you
uys think this was done by someone else. Was this another of GM's ahead of it's
ime engineering?
The Felpro set I got is nice and thick like the diesel pan gasket set, just
ithout the metal.
What is everyone here doing?
-
Chr$: Perpetual SmartAss
7 Ex-Kingsley 455, Power Drive, 3:21 FD, Quadra bag. The Engineer's Motorhome
cottsdale, AZ
Photosite: Chrisc "It has Begun"
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Dennis S
73 Painted Desert 230
Memphis TN Metro

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Re: [GMCnet] Valve Covers [message #88463 is a reply to message #88460]

Sun, 13 June 2010 20:25

Dennis S

Messages: 3046
Registered: November 2005

Karma: 2

Senior Member

Chris,
I should also add that I borrowed an idea from SteveF and used some spreaders from Autozone and longer valve cover bolts in those locations in my effort to avoid future leaks. I cut clear tubing to cover the ends of the speaders to avoid metal to painted metal contact.

Dennis Sexton
73 GMC
Germantown, TN 38138-2066
USA

-----Original Message-----
From: dennisfsexton@aol.com
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Sun, Jun 13, 2010 8:18 pm
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Valve Covers

hris,
used Fel Pro silicone and metal valve cover gaskets -- limited use but seem
reat.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/FPP-1658/

ennis Sexton
3 GMC
ermantown, TN
SA

-----Original Message-----
rom: Chris Choffat <cchoffataz@yahoo.com>
o: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
ent: Sun, Jun 13, 2010 7:36 pm
ubject: [GMCnet] Valve Covers

I popped off my leaky valve covers today. No gaskets. Just a thin line of RTV on
he inside and outside edge of the mating surface.
o wonder they leaked. The RTV was crusty by the crossovers.
realize this is common today, but did GM do this back in the 70's or do you
ys think this was done by someone else. Was this another of GM's ahead of it's
me engineering?
he Felpro set I got is nice and thick like the diesel pan gasket set, just
thout the metal.
hat is everyone here doing?

hr$: Perpetual SmartAss
Ex-Kingsley 455, Power Drive, 3:21 FD, Quadra bag. The Engineer's Motorhome
ottsdale, AZ
hotosite: Chrisc "It has Begun"
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Cnet mailing list
st Information and Subscription Options:
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_______________________________________________
MCnet mailing list
ist Information and Subscription Options:
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Dennis S
73 Painted Desert 230
Memphis TN Metro

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Re: Valve Covers [message #88481 is a reply to message #88454]

Sun, 13 June 2010 22:00

Chr$

Messages: 2690
Registered: January 2004
Location: Scottsdale, AZ

Karma: 1

Senior Member

Yeah, I noticed there were no spreaders too. My experience with valve covers have been limited to a 1966 inline 6 chevy and 1990 mitsubishi v6 in a chrysler. The chevy had spreaders, the mitsu had two nuts in the center of the cover, leaked like a sieve.

-Chr$: Perpetual SmartAss
Scottsdale, AZ

77 Ex-Kingsley 455 SOLD!
2010 Nomad 24 Ft TT 390W PV W/MPPT, EV4010 and custom cargo door.
Photosite: Chrisc GMC:"It has Begun" TT: "The Other Woman"

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Re: Valve Covers [message #88482 is a reply to message #88454]

Sun, 13 June 2010 22:01

fred v

Messages: 999
Registered: April 2006
Location: pensacola, fl.

Karma: 0

Senior Member

i used the thick rubber ones and even re-used them with no problems.

Fred V
'77 Royale RB 455
P'cola, Fl

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Re: Valve Covers [message #88519 is a reply to message #88454]

Mon, 14 June 2010 10:51

Carl S.

Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.

Karma: 13

Senior Member

Chris,

When I did mine, one valve cover had a gasket and the other did not. The one without the gasket had the worse leak. I'm pretty sure GM used gaskets, so this was obviously a PO repair at some point. I used FelPro rubber gaskets with a thin film of Gray permatex RTV applied to both sides. Be careful not to over tighten the screws.

Carl Stouffer '75 ex Palm Beach Tucson, AZ. Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member

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Re: Valve Covers [message #88539 is a reply to message #88519]

Mon, 14 June 2010 12:54

Chr$

Messages: 2690
Registered: January 2004
Location: Scottsdale, AZ

Karma: 1

Senior Member

thanks, guys,Carl, thanks for the tip on the type of permatex. There are so many!!!

-Chr$: Perpetual SmartAss
Scottsdale, AZ

77 Ex-Kingsley 455 SOLD!
2010 Nomad 24 Ft TT 390W PV W/MPPT, EV4010 and custom cargo door.
Photosite: Chrisc GMC:"It has Begun" TT: "The Other Woman"

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Re: Valve Covers [message #88547 is a reply to message #88519]

Mon, 14 June 2010 13:41

fred v

Messages: 999
Registered: April 2006
Location: pensacola, fl.

Karma: 0

Senior Member

Carl S. wrote on Mon, 14 June 2010 10:51

i suggest using RTV on the valve cover only to hold the gasket in place and seal it. the head is a good machined surface and will seal without RTV. you can easily remove the cover that way.

Fred V
'77 Royale RB 455
P'cola, Fl

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Re: Valve Covers [message #88551 is a reply to message #88547]

Mon, 14 June 2010 14:08

Carl S.

Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.

Karma: 13

Senior Member

I didn't see any reason to NOT use RTV on both sides of the gasket. On a non-adjustable valve train, as on the 455, I have very little interest in removing the valve covers and a lot of interest in making sure they don't leak.

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Re: Valve Covers [message #88553 is a reply to message #88539]

Mon, 14 June 2010 14:14

Carl S.

Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.

Karma: 13

Senior Member

Chris wrote: "thanks, guys,Carl, thanks for the tip on the type of permatex. There are so many!!! "

Chris,

Do I detect a note of sarcasm there? I just have developed a preference for the gray or copper Permatex, whichever I have on hand. Just a personal preference

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Re: Valve Covers [message #88578 is a reply to message #88553]

Mon, 14 June 2010 16:56

Chr$

Messages: 2690
Registered: January 2004
Location: Scottsdale, AZ

Karma: 1

Senior Member

No sarcasm. just a lot of choices. Never know what to use.

-Chr$: Perpetual SmartAss
Scottsdale, AZ

77 Ex-Kingsley 455 SOLD!
2010 Nomad 24 Ft TT 390W PV W/MPPT, EV4010 and custom cargo door.
Photosite: Chrisc GMC:"It has Begun" TT: "The Other Woman"

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