Valve cover and gasket

PittSpeed Automotive
1

I’m going to be pulling my valve cover and send it down to chuck to get polished.

My question is should I just buy a new OEM gasket or is there a better one I sould get to try and help againts gasket breakdown and leaks. Also from my understanding when you do a head gasket you have to use new bolts, is this the same with a valve cover? or do you just use the originals? I never had to replace one before and it seems pretty strait forward. I just want to see if there are any little detalis I don’t know about.

Oh and my current one is starting to leak some thats why I asked about a better one, or a better brand to use.

Any info or suggestions would be appricieated.

No ricer remarks or BS comments please. I’m getting sick of seeing them in threads asking for help.

Thanks

2

you can use the same bolts for the valve cover. the head bolts in stock form are torque to yield and can only be torqued once.

3

So do I just tighten the bolts down as much as I can or torque them to spec. I hate valve covers because of them leaking, I know when Brian was doing my exhaust we were talking about the slight leake and I believe he suguested I just try to tighten down the cover some more. Yet at the same time I know there are tourqe specs, so thats why I ask.

4

i know on my jetta it was like a rubber gasket. I never replaced it and it never leaked.

I just tightened it down, never had a problem

5

so you are saying I should just tighten them sumsofbitches down and not worry about using a tq wrench…

6

if gasket is rubber reuse,just snug the bolts or 18 INCHPOUNDS!

7

ok is the gasket isn;t reusable, any brands you recommend for a GM?

8

is it rubber?

9

Use a torque wrench!

10

On my car I don’t think so.

11

i think it is,which means u can reuse!

12

I would recommend reusing the factory rubber gaskets too.

I believe Shag might have some suggestions reusing rubbers, but I wouldn’t subscribe to that advice! :ugh: :ugh: :ugh:

13

oh ok cool, there isn;t any kit of gasket sealant like whne you do thermostat or anything I have to use is there?

14

not ifr its rubber!

15

you reinstall it with new gasket advance auto and 12 inchpounds of torque ( a good snug turn with a 10mm socket) simple… no need to bust out a toque wrech on a valve cover

16

1/4 air ratchet>

17

did you ever try to remove a broken bolt sheared off in a aluminum head ? that there is not a smart thing to use … hell it is not a case harden bolt

18

Welp I got it in and the oil leak cleaned up. Thanks to Chuck (custom and sound) for the polishing work, and thansk to Brian (pewterss) for the couple questions I called him on (there was just a lot of oil and it cleaned up :slight_smile: ).

The picture doesn;t do it justice, and I can;t find my meatal polish other wise I would have cleaned the intake and the cover…

******Edit - the uploader isn;t working so I will have to wait to post the picture up. I keep getting a fatal error when I try to use the uploader and the Uploader in the “manage attachments” :dunno:

19

Now that the uploader is back here is the valve cover Custome and sound did for me. Next the altenator will probably be getting done. I will be replacing the hoses to once the weather warms up…

20

http://www.pittspeed.com/uploaded/sns.jpg
thats better