Sealing stupid MP SB valve covers?

[GoodysGotaCuda]

My valve covers have always dripped a little oil and I'm about sick of it. In the past i changed gaskets a couple times. Any of you guys double gasket or any recommendations? Every dang mopar performance part i've bought never works right or seals. 


Thanks,
-Mike

[360 'CUDA]

I hate those valve covers  (no offense)  Whenever I get those they go straight to E-spay

I always use steel covers

[MEK-Dangerfield]

The only thing I can suggest is clean the oil from around the top of the heads real good with alcohol to get it clean. Then apply some RTV, then the gasket, then the valve covers. It will be easier to just smear the RTV on the gasket, rather than around the top of the heads.


  Mike

[GoodysGotaCuda]

I hate those valve covers  (no offense)  Whenever I get those they go straight to E-spay

I always use steel covers

Yea steel covers are going on the 360 for a stocker look. I've had an issue with almost everything MP ive bought. But meanwhile these are staying, I'm going to try and pick up the rubber/steel gaskets from the local chrysler deal, and i'm going to see if i can find some studs to maybe get a little better seal, maybe use some of those little spreader deals to distribute the bolt torque a little better. 

[Hopalong]

Try the rubber with the steel shim first.  The spreader bars will not do you any good with cast covers.  Check the sealing surface of the cover with a straight edge, I have found some cast covers to be warped.  Not much you can do about them being warped, but that may be the problem.

[Dragula]

Use a long straight file, and file them flat. If they are really out of wack, a grinder might need to be used initially and the a file. Use a marker, color the gasket surface with it, and grind/file it till it all cleans up.

[Bullitt-]

I've always been afaid of overtightening the valve covers & crushing the gasket or bending the metal, so I have always had kind of loose bolts & a little ooze. Do your bolts stay tight?  Wonder if some sealer aound the bolts would keep them from getting too loose?

[Killer_Mopar]

Hrrrm, I never had a problem with the MP valve covers, big or small block. When I install the covers I lay a thin line of RTV on the valve cover, then put the gasket on, put another line of RTV, install the cover on the head, torque it down hand-tight, and let it sit till dry. The only problem with this method is that the cover is a pain in the ass to remove as it pretty much bonds itself together, however like I said before....I dont get any oil leaks.

[Chryco Psycho]

I spent 5 hours & 3 gaskets trying to get 1 side to seal up , the heads are not flat & the cover cannot bend to compensate , those covers look great but they are aweful to seal up

[GoodysGotaCuda]

I spent 5 hours & 3 gaskets trying to get 1 side to seal up , the heads are not flat & the cover cannot bend to compensate , those covers look great but they are aweful to seal up

Thanks Chryco, i did find part of the issue was the valve cover was lightly pressing up against the intake. Leaking less...but leaking still. I'll get it! 

[jvike]

I did'n't have any problems with them, used the gaskets in the felpro engine gasket kit. no peroblem.

[tactransman]

I spent 5 hours & 3 gaskets trying to get 1 side to seal up , the heads are not flat & the cover cannot bend to compensate , those covers look great but they are aweful to seal up

      Had them on a 440 and they leaked, come to find out the valve cover was trying to conform to the uneven head surface and cracked the valve cover!

[Chryco Psycho]

softer cork composition gaskets & double gaskets sometimes help , I have seen a lot of cracked covers from trying to get them sealed

[Challenger6pak]

I've always used cork gaskets.  With the cast alluminum I will RTV a gasket on the head and another gasket on the valve cover.  It takes 2 gasket sets per motor, but there are no leaks and the covers can be taken back off without always having to replace the gaskets. 

[chrisII]

last resort is a product called "right stuff" it comes in a "cheese can", or with a small calking gun and is similar to silicone, but dries much harder and does not alow oil to seap through. its a great product for sealing intake end seals. the chebby boys i know use it alot for that. its pretty much a better solution than silicone for almost all uses..oooh yeah its kinda expensive but thats cuz it works