so i found out that whomever owned the car before me had the driver's side valve cover on backwards (the oil filler cap is toward the front of the car) and i have to take off the whole air filter stuff just to add oil so, when i go to switch it back around, do i have to get a new gasket or is there anything else important i should know?

and if i decide to get new ones, is there really a difference between center bolt and side bolt? i have side bolt ones, will i have to change anything? which ones are more preffered?

 

New gaskets are recommended yeah, theyre cheap anyways. Go with rubber over cork. I like side-bolt covers, I just dont trust centerbolts to seal. Other than that you shouldnt have issues, just clean up the gasket mating surfaces when you get it off, and torque it decently. Don't go overboard, dont wanna warp/stretch anything. Stick with what ya got, and just get a set of rubber gaskets IMO, and a razor blade to clean the surfaces of old rubber/rtv that may be there.

 

Yes you need new gaskets. You can only run the side bolt covers. Your heads will only accept that style.