valve cover gaskets ?
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 373
Likes: 1
From: Hudson Valley, NY
valve cover gaskets ?
I installed the traditional cork gaskets on my engine, and torqued them to factory specs, but I'm not liking the way they look .. in places they seem to have slipped in .. ie: I can't see the gasket along the edge, but the tabs still look like they're where they should be ..
called the local parts place (not AZ or Advance) and asked if they had the rubber ones with compression stops, and he said I'd need to change the intake manifold gaskets too, which I've already done, so not a big deal, but I wonder why?
I went to FelPro's site and they seem to say that the rubber ones are just for engines that originally came with rubber .. but yet they have them for my application ..
what do you guys think?
called the local parts place (not AZ or Advance) and asked if they had the rubber ones with compression stops, and he said I'd need to change the intake manifold gaskets too, which I've already done, so not a big deal, but I wonder why?
I went to FelPro's site and they seem to say that the rubber ones are just for engines that originally came with rubber .. but yet they have them for my application ..
what do you guys think?
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
The Ford steel core rubber coated gaskets are easily the best you will find, and you may even get them for less then what a comparable Felpro will cost at the parts store. The steel core ensures consistent clamping force along the whole gasket surface and will take more clamping force overall so these gasklets will never leak unless the bolts fall out.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 373
Likes: 1
From: Hudson Valley, NY
The Ford steel core rubber coated gaskets are easily the best you will find, and you may even get them for less then what a comparable Felpro will cost at the parts store. The steel core ensures consistent clamping force along the whole gasket surface and will take more clamping force overall so these gasklets will never leak unless the bolts fall out.
the new rubber gaskets (yes, I've been to the store and purchased them already) have a torque spec of 60 in/lbs, while my haynes manual says 132-168 in/lbs, seems like a large diff, so maybe that's where I went wrong ..
should I get a set of 'load spreaders' before installing the new gaskets?
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
I believe you said the felpro only have steel inserts around the bolt holes? The Ford gaskets have a steel core around the whole thing so they are rigid and hold their shape. In any event the Felpros will work better than the cork gaskets and I don't think you'll need load spreaders. The bolts will take and hold the TQ spec much better and that will prevent the bolts from loosening.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 373
Likes: 1
From: Hudson Valley, NY
I believe you said the felpro only have steel inserts around the bolt holes?
thanks again everyone
