valve cover gaskets for FE

Michael C Henry · #1 (**permalink**) 05-27-2002, 01:08 PM

I'm looking for a set of premimum reuseable valve cover gaskets to fit a 427 Ford FE engine. I've talked to a phone person at Jeg's about the Moroso Perma'align gaskets .He said they were not manufactured. I have some doubts of his accuraccy.Before when I called about a thremostat he didn't have the information that was on the package.Some of you guys have all the info. I have the old used cork gaskets and doubt that they will make it again.

chopper · #2 (**permalink**) 05-28-2002, 02:44 PM

I use a set of rubber-type gaskets which I picked up at a local speed shop. I find they don't seal quite as well as the cork gaskets but I don't have to replace them every time I pull the covers. They seem to work equally well with either the finned aluminum or chromed steel covers. Like most FE folks, I find that the big leakage point is the junction between the head, intake manifold and valve cover on the passenger side of the engine, just above the starter. I have tried several different methods to stop this leak without success to this point.

SCOBRAC · #3 (**permalink**) 06-03-2002, 12:16 AM

Fel Pro.. they are like a black rubberized material. I love mine.. on and off in a snap, Kragen, Schucks and Checker all have them on the shelf.. Pep boys too probably.. Keep it simple..

As for stopping the leak described above.. I find the problem is two fold compounded by the FE valve cover needing at least one more bolt.. What I found is there are generally two leaks.. one at the manifold/head seal the second at either the low point where the intake manifold should stop, but is too low, or (in my case) where the intake manifold gasket sticks up into the valve cover gasket and is too high..

For the first condition I actually ran a small bead of RTV in the channel on the inside if the intake/head seam of about 1" from the valve cover gaset... I was getting a leak through the very small gap in below the valve cover (between the head and the manifold).. Don't get wild with the silicone and let it glob up.. it could break off if you over apply it.

The second area was right at the joint at the head and intake. My intake manifold gasket was actually sticking up at this point and should have been trimmed prior to final assembly, but wasn't.. (I didn't build the engine) The gasket has a steel inner liner so cutting it would cause more damage than it would be worth.. Replacing the gaskets would be a good idea but I have done FE intakes before and it is a chore..

What I did was to apply a bit of RTV to the protruding intake gasket on the valve cover seating area.. smooth it down flat as if to make the transition less severe and lessening the job the valve cover has to do, let it DRY.. This allows you to remove the valve cover next time..

It worked for me.. I use to have a small puddle at the front of the engine by the timing cover after as little as 20 min. of driving.. Not any more.

Regards,