So i have '88 tbi centerbolt heads (valve covers) and i was wondering if i could covert them to the regular heads?
Im tired of center bolt heads and i've been told by many poeple that theyre normally pretty crappy and tend to leak oil alot.
I assume it just easy bolt on the new set, but im just making sure before i got out and buy a brand new set of heads haha

Thanks!

 

you got it backwards the older style perimeter heads are notorious for leaking oil the newer style(centerbolt) is good for sealing just change your gasket with a rubber felpro replacement and dont worry about it.

 

Really? i head the opposite.. but maybe i've got it wrong.. haha
I just found out that the valve covers i have are made out of some crappy tin material and i should by thicker aluminum ones that wont warp under pressure.

 

Vipershark is right - the 'centerbolt' design was GMs cure for leaky valve covers, and it does work. Just get a good set of rubber gaskets, and make sure your valve covers sealing surface is straight, and you should be good to go.

 

well i bought and switched out the old gaskets a while back and that didnt stop it, but i think the previous owner maybe wayyy over torqued the bolts to where it bent the shape of the valve covers maybe??

 

are the covers chrome plated? what type of gasket did you get?

 

Yes they are chrome plated. and they were felpro (sp?) rubber gaskets. someone told me that i need to get some thicker style valve covers, mine right now are really thin and made out of a tin like material

 

Thicker aluminum ones help, as they are more rigid. GM also makes a composite set that was on the LT1/LT4 Corvette engines.

The tin valve cover, stock or otherwise, are pretty flimsy and warp easily if overtorqued - thats when they leak. Otherwise, they won't leak with a good gasket.

 

sweet then that'll be my next thing to buy haha
Thank you!

 

try scuffing/sanding the chrome out of the gasket groove if its in there. that cause most of anything to leak.

 

really? niceeeeeeee ill try doing that soon THANK YOU!