What kind of valve cover gaskets do you recomend?Rubber,cork,etc.....?I need to get some for Trans Am..Thanks...Al in NJ

 

Rubber...I am using the gaskets that Nascar uses on their cars though. Very pricey...

 

'CaptPicardsZ28' I'm wondering if your talking about the Moroso rubber gasket with the steel core? Anywho, that's what I'm running, and yea they run about 30 bucks.

Mr Gasket makes a composite gasket which works pretty good also.

What ever you do don't buy a cork gasket, and use a tube of RTV to get it to seal.

Ron

 

i didn't know you could still get cork. that's like dark ages. i use fel pro gaskets.

 

rubber over a steel core.


theres a circle track store that sells the EXACT SAME ones as the Moroso $30 ones for $9.95.... i got the link off this site.... if you do a short search you could find it...

i also see them go cheap on ebay...

 

Maybe im just lucky but ive never had any problems with cork. Even got a cover to seal with only 3 of the 4 bolts and a cork gasket only no rtv.

 

cork for me any day

 

take off your valve cover.

now put it back on.


it will then leak.


i just like rubber because theres no chance of a leak no matter how many times i reuse it.

 

I like the new rubber gaskets. I used to run the cork ones, but they start hardening when they get old and hot. They are also harder to clean off of the valve covers. The rubber ones seem to remain pliable. IMO.

 

i use gasket maker on both sides of the cork, ive taken them off a few times and still no leak

 

I use the felpro rubber ones on my perimeter bolt valve covers and they work great. On the center bolt ones felpro makes the neoprine gaskets. I think those are the only type available for the newer style valve covers.

 

What about the FelPro Perma-Dry Plus (Part#VS12869T)? It is about twice the price of the FelPro rubber (Part#VS12869R). Is it worth it? What are the advantages?

thanks,

 

I "glue" cork ones to the cover only with Hi-Tack. They are good for several R&Rs.

 

Siliconized rubber.

I do like cork better on trans pans. It works swell.

 

If you have a machined surface on your heads for your rocker covers and are using NON stamped steel covers, the rubber/steel core ones are hard to beat.

 

I don't use any... just put a bead of gasket silicone around the bottom of the valve cover, wipe the surface on the head clean-ish, drop it on and screw it down.

I do that, and I never have any leaking problems.

 

Well, I use cork ones, because they are cheap (usually I can find a set for free, because someone else bought rubber and dont need them), and because they are cheap. I also like them because they are cheap. Did I mention they are cheap? AirAdam, no gasket at all? Why?

 

Rubber seals for everything.

 

I've always had more success without them. Maybe I was doing something wrong, but I could never get rubber or cork ones to seal all the way around.

Since I started leaving them out and using only silicone, I've never had any leaks. Anywere.

Plus, its cheaper

 

They probably begin to leak after a while because they squish down when theyre repeatedly heated. Ive noticed mine doing the same thing and then they start to dribble. I usually jsut go back a week after ive installed the new gaskets and retorque the bolts to spec.

 

no chance?? I wish I could attain that.

which gaskets are you using and how do you prep the surface each time?

 

LOL, how old is this thread?

currently, i use the O-ring gasket that comes on the LS1... they never leak.


but on my SBC, i used the GM rubber gaskets. or the blue felpro rubber ones. i had flat, clean valvecovers, and flat clean valvcover rails.... no leaks that way.