Who's got a secret for me?
Recently, I purchased new chrome plated valve covers from Summit Racing which look very hot. I got them delivered this week. Along with the new valve covers, I purchased new thick rubber Fel-Pro valve cover gaskets. Believe it or not, I have been using the '87 valve covers AND gaskets since day one, all the way back to 1987.
Since I installed the 395 cu.in. stroker, I have been plagued with oil leaks off of the back side of the engine. For the longest time, I thought that it was the rear main seal. However, after seeing a drop of oil on the bottom side of the header flange, convinced me that it most be the valve covers. I had gone about 20 years, doing numerous mods which required removing the valve covers and putting them back on. Then, after installing the 395, I got the leak. So, naturally, I thought that it was the rear main seal.

 

The main way to stop valve cover leaks, is to not buy thin sheetmetal, cheap, flimsy, chrome valve covers.

If you go aftermarket, don't go for the cheap ones.

 

put a little wheel bearing grease on the gasket to help it seal. If that doesnt help you will have to use rtv but that will eat the gasket over time.

 

I agree! Had the same problem with the thin, chromed junk myself.

 

at the very least you'll need to get those "load distributing" bars that go under the valve cover bolts. even then, I suspect you're just deferring the inevitable leak.

but inadvertently you just made the very convincing argument for going with cast aluminum valve covers. probably not what you wanted to hear... sorry bout that.

 

the load distributing pieces only work on the perimeter valve covers, which wouldn't apply to the 87+ center bolt covers. I agree that the cheaper thinner covers definitely have leak issues though. you could try a little bit of the black RTV on the rubber gaskets to see if that helps, but make sure to let it cure for a bit before running the engine.

If you are running the perimeter style covers, load spreaders and a thick cork gasket can help. While I normally hate cork gaskets, the thick ones seem to do a good job of conforming to uneven surfaces better than the rubber ones do.

 

Are you sure it's the valve covers leaking and not the intake manifold?

I've been using Spectre chrome centerbolt covers for 5 years (factory covers didn't fit my World heads) with no leak problems.