Hey guys,

Oil has been leaking from the valve covers on my 72 302, so I was wanting to remove them, prime/paint and replace the gaskets. I removed the 6 bolts on each side, yet they won't budge. Am I missing something? Used a rubber mallet, but these things are stuck on tight!

 

Someone prolly used RTV to glue'em on. Pry 'em off.

 

Would that warp the covers at all? These are OEM, so I didn't wanna damage them or the mating surface too bad.

Guess I could try putting a putty knife or spacer underneath there and trying to pry. Tough to get under there since there is no give at all.

 

Just go at it a little at a time, from any angle that you can get at.

 

I used a thin paint scraper for drywall patching. Go very slowly and just try to work your way around the entire cover. Then pick a corner and gently pry up.

 

Beat harder with the rubber mallet or get a bigger one. They will pop.
At worst, you buy two more tin covers. Cheap and plentiful.

 

2x with John if someone applied RTV to both sides of the gasket you will be for a fight freeing them up..

Orich

 

If nothing works, put the rubber mallet to the cover, get a heavy maul and rap the rubber. The gasket will split. These things can be ornery. They need talking to with profanity.