[Griffinspc]

OK, I've read most of the threads here regarding installing gaskets but for one more time I'd like some opinions. In the old days it was easy, cork and gasket sealer. Now it's cork, rubber, sealed or not sealed and of course Permatex Black or Right Stuff with no preformed gasket.

I have a 68 Ventura, 400ci that had the original valve covers on it till last night. Now I'm ready to put cleaned up stainless steel covers on. Both the heads and the covers are spotless clean now. So I've had people say just use rubber and no sealant, cork and some sealant and others say Permatex only. A pretty good mechanic I know, more as a friend said that anything but Permatex will leak whereas a friend with 20 years of old big Pontiac rebuilding says rubber with no sealant will work fine.

Tell me what you all think.

[steve]

i use permatex grey to seal the gasket to the cover and then left dry on the side that goes on the head....

[Griffinspc]

Thanks for the reply. Cork or rubber for your method?

[Pontirag]

Ditto

I prefer rubber over the cork when I can

[steve]

i use cork because i feel on the valve cover gaskets the rubber can squeeze out of the channel if it gets oil on it

[Griffinspc]

Thanks. I bought rubber gaskets and was going to add sealant to the cover side when I got varied opinions. What sealant do you use on rubber gaskets?

[Schurkey]

In general, I glue the gasket to the removable piece (valve cover, oil pan, water pump, etc) using any of a multitude of gasket sealers or adhesives.

Doesn't really matter WHAT you use, although RTV silicone would be my LAST choice. Silicone in aerosol form is a lubricant, why install slippery gaskets that will shift or squeeze out-of-position?

I've become very fond of Gasgacinch; but I still use good ol' Yellow Death (3M Weatherstrip Adhesive) or Permatex #1, or #2; and there's room for HyTack and CopperCoat and ordinary pipe thread sealant with Teflon. The pipe sealant--cheap stuff in a bottle with a brush in the cap--works great for steel shim head gaskets; or steel shim "turkey tray" valley pan-style intake gaskets.

[HWYSTR455]

Me too, like using gorrilla snot for the gasket to cover. I've used both, rubber and cork, and lately been leaning more towards cork, no particular reason (maybe availability, or what I had in stock).

I use High Tack on paper gaskets for areas like timing covers, termostats, oil pan, and valley pan gaskets. (carb base and dizzy to block gasket I do dry).

Copper spray I use on collector gaskets for example, where heat is an issue. Steel/copper shim style head gaskets are another area copper spray is good for.

Many intake and head gaskets go dry, read the manufacturer's recommendations. I don't even know if they even make the 'regular' old-style paper gaskets for heads anymore!

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[bluzurb]

i use rubber for the valve covers and a little bit of RTV on the cover side just to hold the gasket in place. It is a pain in the butt to get the gasket to stay in place while you tigten it down, expecially the driver's side.

[Griffinspc]

Originally Posted by bluzurb

i use rubber for the valve covers and a little bit of RTV on the cover side just to hold the gasket in place. It is a pain in the butt to get the gasket to stay in place while you tigten it down, expecially the driver's side.

Do you surround the bolt holes or just a few dots to keep it sticking to the cover?

[bluzurb]

Originally Posted by Griffinspc

Do you surround the bolt holes or just a few dots to keep it sticking to the cover?

just enough to keep the gasket in place while putting it on. You don't necessarily need the rtv. I just put it on because the brake booster is there, and i also have the roller rockers that stick up higher. it's just easier.

[Griffinspc]

Great stufff guys. Thanks. Seems as though this is a subject that has no real answer. Rubber or cork and so far no one just using Permatex and no gasket. Shchurkey, you don't say which you prefer, cork or rubber for your valve covers.

[Griffinspc]

Ok, gorilla snot is a new one for me, what the ... is gorilla snot?

[HWYSTR455]

Originally Posted by Griffinspc

Ok, gorilla snot is a new one for me, what the ... is gorilla snot?

3M Super Adhesive. It's yellow, sticky, and super stringy! Hence, gorrilla snot! They now make it in black also, fyi....


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[steve]

you talking about "super 90" in the black spray can ?

[HWYSTR455]

3M Super Weatherstrip and Gasket Adhesive, 8001, like schurkey mentioned.

http://www.shop3m.com/60455029946.ht...strip-Adhesive

8008 is the black

http://www.shop3m.com/60455029961.ht...KU=60455029946


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[steve]

gotcha

[Griffinspc]

HWYSTR455, I'm getting a little lost trying to remember who said what so sorry if you said it already but do you completely cover your gasket with your Gorilla Snot or just dots here and there and maybe complely around the bolt holes?

[HWYSTR455]

I cover the gasket straight from the tube as best I can, then 'smear' it some with my finger. Then I spend the next 5 mins while it's setting up a little removing what's on my fingers! Sure, I play with it a little, making stringy things, rolling my finger tips to make fake boogers, pretend like I'm pulling it from my nose, you know, the usual stuff! You can try to put it on the cover too, but that never works for me.


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[Griffinspc]

That sounds like me. Straight to the heart or nose of the matter. Well it seems as though the idea of using just Permatex Right Stuff by itself isn't real popular and using a rubber or cork gasket with NO sealant is not used often either.

So I'll see if I can locate some snot today and use the rubber gaskets I already bought and go for it tonight. Unless of course some more opinions come this way. I'll probably go to a light coat of snot on the valve cover side of the rubber since this is an old block and used stainless covers. The bolt holes were a little warped and needed a light hammering so it's probably good to not just spot it.