cork vs rubber valve cover gaskets

[jsomedaysoon]

i'm sure this is probably common knowledge to alot of you but all i can find at the local parts stores is cork gaskets. i dont know why but i have a bad feeling about them. it just seems like out dated technology. i wanted the rubber ones but i also wanted to do the work this weekend so i was stuck buying the cork ones. is the rubber really better or are the cork ones okay or whats the difference? i have two trucks and had to go to two different stores to get the gaskets. napa sold me ones with little metal inserts in the holes and advanced had the same gaskets with out the metal inserts.

 

[Seabronc]

I can't imagine what the metal inserts will serve to do except possibly keep you from over tightening the blots. Both the cork or rubber work just fine as far as I can see, as long as they are tightened properly. The advantage of rubber is supposed to be that you don't have to change the gasket every time you remove the covers. Plus you don't have to spend time scraping the old cork off. Cork is still in use in many applications that use gaskets and just because it is old, doesn't mean it is outdated. By the way, if you over tighten rubber, you will still have to replace it the next time you do it.

Good luck,

>-

 

[Yardape]

That's what the metal inserts are for, its very easy to overtighten and cut the gasket without them. And like seabronc said the cork are good for vehicles that don't have their valve covers off every other weekend. When I used to drag race we preferred the rubber because we were adjusting the valves constantly.

 

[shift1313]

im not sure if this applies to every motor but on my 85 300 i had to file off the little studs on the valve cover when i switched to a rubber gasket.

 

[jsomedaysoon]

cool i did the 84 today with the cork gaskets. the 86 will be a little harder its got alot more crap in the way. my torque wrench got stolen. can i just tighten the bolts a little past snug or should i invest in another torque wrench?

 

[Seabronc]

cool i did the 84 today with the cork gaskets. the 86 will be a little harder its got alot more crap in the way. my torque wrench got stolen. can i just tighten the bolts a little past snug or should i invest in another torque wrench?

Preferably an inch pound torque wrench, but a little over snug will work, just keep an eye on it to see fi that is tight enough and then only increase the pressure a little more.

>-

 

[BLADE262US]

Thats exactly what the metal inserts are for so you dont overtighten the cork or rubber and squirt it out . Tha absolute best ones to use are the ones ford came up with for the EFI motors when people got soooooo mad about the labor cost to fix a leaking valve cover because the upper intake must be removed to get to the passenger side one . They are a complete steel ring with a rubber oring molded to each side they are the only thing I will ever use again along with the SCE one piece rubber oil pan gasket . The part number for the valve cover gaskest is M-6584-A50 . Heres a link to summit I have used these for yrs and never ever had one leak I know it says for covers without lips but a few min with a hammer and the steel covers are flat no lip in the way of the gasket . /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.a...mp;autoview=sku

 

[jsomedaysoon]

thats what i have to get into with my 86. the upper intake is in the way so its going to be a hassle. nothing a little time cant solve though. i think i will look into those for the 86. however. on the 84 i'm thinking about getting both new valvecovers and all new bolts because my old ones are so rusted.

 

[crazyhorse85]

After i put the chrome valvecovers on my 85 with the supplied cork gaskets... it did'nt take long the next weekend to change and put rubber gaskets on....they sure seal a little better and the steel insert does help to keep yoy snugging down to tight... B)

 

[oldtimer]

hey if there isn't a lip ti hold that gasket inside of the cover every time you put the pedal to the metal youre probably going to have a leak so i would use permatex gasket maker. i know a lot of people dont like this stuff but it works really good.

 

[jsomedaysoon]

how would you keep it from squeezing out when you tightened the valve cover down? what i'm seeing now is that a small amount of oil seems to be perculating up through the bolt holes. i'm not sure how this is posible but i can see a little bit of oil around each of the holes. i know i got the bolts pretty tight though. thats why i'm thinking about changing the valve covers completely along with the bolts. i'm thinking that they are just to old, rusted and coroded to keep a good seal.

 

[oldtimer]

put to gasket maker around each of the bolt hole and around the valve cover its going to squeeze out once you put the stuff on the cover let it sit for about 15-20 minute once the cover is back on let it sit over night so it can dry and seal. Do Not start it until the next day. I did this about 4 years ago to mine and there's still no leaks

 

[Justshootme84]

I used the cork gaskets on the 84 351W, but found the winged hold-downs helped keep them from leaking. The torque specs onthe valve cover bolts is somewhere around 20-inch pounds, and not 20-FOOT-pounds. Just snug, but check often if the bolts try to work loose. my olds ones did on a weekly basis, JSM84