Most of you probably have a oem v.cover, so you may not have this problem, but if you do, like me, have the Clifford v.c., then I have learned something that may help.

I like to save money when I can. That is why I refuse to pay the inflated price of the Clifford v.c. gasket. And besides, even when I do use it it still needs to be trimmed. You have to use the 'rubber' Fel-pro gasket ($8.00, and I think the Cliff. one is about $20 with postage). The cork one just wont stretch. To get the gasket to stay you have to clean really well on the cover side, then glue and clamp it in place over night. If you don't, it just pulls out of place once it is installed and leaks a quart in a week. Wonderful mess on your under carriage!

I was pressed for time and could not wait 24 hours for the glue to dry. So what did I do? Super glue to the rescue!! I glued it in place, to the v.c. only, clamped it, and in 30 minutes it was use ready. Now if it holds I'll be real happy.

 

It may do the trick...but I'm thinking the super glue might not be quite flexible enough. Time will tell though.

http://www.permatex.com/products/aut...c_Compound.htm

That stuff tends to be a bit messy but some users swear by it.

 

Harte3: Thanks for the tip. I use Indian head gasket compound, and am aware of several others as well, but because the Cliffy requires an oem gasket to be trimmed and stretched in places (even the Cliff. gasket for his own v.cover has to be trimmed!!) the I.H. compound just won't work. It won't hold. Clifford even recommends using weather strip adhesive and letting it dry over night before installation. The adhesive has to hold the gasket and keep it from sliding out of its stretched position even after the cover is installed. K

 

That is interesting that the Clifford gasket does not fit its own valve cover without trimming. Especially when it costs two and half times more than a stock oem gasket. Shame on them.

Jim

 

Another great reason I simply picked up a spare Valve Cover for $1...And will be painting it soon....

 

I called and spoke with them at Clifford's today. Larry was surprised to hear that I had to trim their gasket. Maybe I have a Clifford knock off!

 

I should say that the original Clifford gasket lasted 2 1/2 years with out a leak, even though I had it off several times. It did not fail until I tightened the end bolt w/o regard to evenly tightening the adjacent nuts, and split the gasket. Also, when I mention trimming the gasket, it is a simple matter of using some tin snips and a marker, and done in 20 minutes. For the cosmetic 'zing' it gives my engine, I am happy to have it, and happy to have spent the $. It also allows me to try roller rockers w/o worry. The diff between an oem cover and the Clifford cover is night and day.

 

I went over the v.cover bolts just like my header/int. bolts: Tighten, run for a while, let cool to touch, retighten, repeat one more time and forget about it.

The $7. Gasket worked fine once trimmed, super glued and clamped for a few minutes. So It did save me some money. And I learned something in the process: The EFI head has a diff. v.cover gasket/bolt hole spacing than the pre efi head.