Painting Valve Covers

[ckuske]

Thanks, good advice!  I'm looking at using silicone gaskets when I put everything back together - Ultra Black will work with that application?

I also used the tabs you mentioned, they were convenient to have right there.  

[ArdWrknTrk]

If you intend to use the same red silicone gaskets Scott and I are using then you do not use any sealant of any kind.

These gaskets work fine with cast covers, but I have only used them on a stamped steel oil pan.

So I can't say how they'll work with tin valve covers.

But then, I don't think silicone goop is ever appropriate as a gasket dressing, except for a light smear around intake crossovers.

Maybe I'm just old and out of touch...

[grumpin]

I don’t use silicone either.

If I put anything on a valve cover gasket it would be this.

https://www.permatex.com/products/gasketing/gasket-sealants/permatex-aviation-form-a-gasket-no-3-sealant-liquid/?locale=en_us

Had good results, used to use it on piston aircraft engines.

[ckuske]

Thanks guys, I figured as much.

Dane, are you/were you an A&P mechanic?  I’m in aviation for work, but at a “higher” level (pun sorta intended)… I do work in avionics.

[grumpin]

Yes, I'm an A&P. Retired.

I did a lot of avionics in my last job, corporate jets.

[ckuske]

Very cool!  In case it wasn’t clear I was joking about the “higher level” comment, wasn’t implying A&P or maintenance is somehow less than. I have so much respect for you guys, I’d be a nervous wreck every time I signed off on something and sent a plane out of the hangar!

[grumpin]

Yeah, I figured you were joking.

[ckuske]

It sounded funnier in my head. . Have a good night!

Got the covers stripped of paint and sanded. Tomorrow I hope to fix a couple dents and dings, then prime and paint!

[Rusty_S85]

ckuske wrote

Thanks, good advice!  I'm looking at using silicone gaskets when I put everything back together - Ultra Black will work with that application?

I also used the tabs you mentioned, they were convenient to have right there.  

If you are looking at using silicone gaskets or rubber gaskets over cork I would probably look at using something like weather stripping adhesive and put just a small dab in the corners on the valve cover to help just hold it in place.  You could also use the ultra black for that as well.

I have a set of the blue Felpro rubber valve cover gaskets its the same blue rubber material as the one piece oil pan gasket set I bought as well.  I intended to install the valve cover gaskets dry if possible.  The oil pan gasket will be dry outside of the usual ultra black at all the joints that may pose a leak.

[ckuske]

Question... the cover had a cork gasket where the oil filler cap goes.

I've searched on Rock Auto, Dennis Carpenter, and LMC for "oil filler cap gasket" and such, and I'm not finding much.  Any ideas?

[kramttocs]

Napa sells one (not cork) that might be worth trying. ATM 059103487
Found a breather gasket for Ford tractors that may work.
Could buy a small square of gasket material and make your own. Tire tube is another option.

I found some NOS one for my 460 (orange silicone) on ebay so you might find something there as well.

[Rusty_S85]

ckuske wrote

Question... the cover had a cork gasket where the oil filler cap goes.

I've searched on Rock Auto, Dennis Carpenter, and LMC for "oil filler cap gasket" and such, and I'm not finding much.  Any ideas?

I never saw just the gasket in the parts and illustration guide.  I think its only part of the cap assembly.

You can still buy the caps how ever, even dorman makes one for $11 but its bare steel and will have to be painted.

If you wanted chrome ford had a chrome option under D1ZZ-6766-A number.  EC-508 is another number typically the model number on the box.

The non chrome one is EC-682 with a number of E3AZ-6766-A but they are yellow.  Seems ford offered these in yellow when they did the redesign in 1983.

[myrl883]

If my advice isn't too late.... If your valve covers are new enough that the edge lip is bent upward instead of down over the heads - do yourself a favor and use the late factory style steel gaskets with rubber bonded to them. Every major gasket company offers them, they're installed dry, reuseable, and they DON'T LEAK!

[ckuske]

Thanks for adding your advice, I have the older ones where the lip faces down... so fingers crossed with the gaskets I have I suppose!  I'm gonna put them on in the next few days.  The directions say to only tighten them to some like 40 inch/lbs... I don't have a torque wrench that goes that low.  I will just try to lightly tighten and certainly not crush them...