While removing the valve covers to replace the valve seals on his "new" 1989 firebird, my son lost two of the copper washers that go on top of the covers under the heads of the bolts. Are these anything special? I can't seem to find them on the autozone site, what are they called?

'nother question. When we had the valve covers off, the rocker arm area was really grungy. What is the best thing to put in there to clean it up? We're planning to change the oil and filter a couple of times, so would like to run something to clean it and then put in clean oil

Any help greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

John.

try gm parts or a junk yard. if all else fails try mc master-carr for some copper sheet, might even be able to find washers from them.

I would say junk yard for the valve cover washers. Any SBC centerbolt valve cover should work. Second guess would be some cheapo washers.

As far as the grungy-ness, there are several solvents out there that can be used. GM top end cleaner comes to mind. I've put some transmission fluid in mine before.

However, depending on how many miles are on the car, and what type of grungy build up it exactly is, sometimes the best thing to do is just leave it where it is. Break that stuff loose, it finds it's way to the pan. The pump sucks it up and it clogs the pickup, then you've got even mroe trouble on your hands than what you started with.

Thanks for the input. I called the chevy dealer and they said there is nothing special about the washers to keep them from leaking oil. They just leak oil.

Maybe we'll get some small rubber washers to put under the metal washers or something.

I went to Ace hardware and got the 1/4" rubber washers and no leaks so far