looking to change out the valve cover gaskets on my 2.9 because they are leaking pretty bad. Should I put some type of gasket sealer on the new cork gasket or just put it on without anything? Also the valve covers are looking a little rough. Where would be a good place to get some new ones? online? or go to discount auto or something. thanks in advance.

 

To help the gasket not move around and get out of place when installing them, put some gasket adhesive on the valve cover so the gasket can stick to it. Let the adhesive set up a while before you put the gasket on it so it will stay where you put it. Maybe 10 or 15 minutes should do it or until the adhesive gets tacky. The valve cover should be completely free of oil wherever the adhesive is applied. Before you put the adhesive on the gasket or valve cover make sure the gasket fits the valve cover correctly and all the holes and tabs line up. If the valve covers are looking rough you could consider repainting them yourself. Get some engine paint of the color you want and sand down the rough looking areas then paint them. The covers need to be extra clean so the paint will stick and look good and not have funny looking spots that don't seem to let the paint stay on it. You could clean them with dish detergent a couple of times before they get sanded and painted. Put the new gaskets on after they're painted. You could get some valve covers on line, but unless they're new they may need some attention too. Plus you have to wait for them to be delivered.

 

You might want to consider the Fel-Pro PermaDry Plus gaskets which are specially made for leaky 2.9Ls.

If the valve covers are rusted through or the flanges are all bent up, then it might be worth calling a few junkyards to see if they have some covers in decent shape.