Alright, I'm wanting to swap out my factory valve covers for a set of Ford Racing ones that were given to me at the Rocky Mountain Mustang Roundup. I've got the gaskets and everything I need (I hope anyway), and I'm just looking to be sure I have the process right, since search isn't working and I can't find the specs in my manual I'm asking here.

I'll have to remove the air cleaner assembly, then do I just unbolt the old ones, clean out any of the old gasket left, use the gasket sealant on the new gaskets, stick them on the new covers, then stick the new covers on and bolt them down? How much torque should I be putting on the bolts when I get the new ones on?

 

Couple questions first.
1) Do you have cork or rubber gaskets?
2) Are the stamped steel or aluminum valve covers?

 

You definitely don't need to torque the bolts down very much. I've always put mine slightely more than hand tight and never had a problem

 

Cork gaskets (they have some rubber like stuff in there it looks like, they're supposed to be high temperature ones), and some of the blue gasket goo.

I'm fairly certain they're aluminum valve covers as well. These ones, specifically, but I've changed them from red letters to Legend Lime.

 

Yeah, those are aluminum. I have a polished set on my engine Before you dive into this, I recommend picking up a full set of valve cover studs/nuts, as the standard bolts aren't long enough. Ford racing makes a set that match the valve covers.

Lay a thin bead of RTV on the valve cover mating surface, then lay the gasket down on top of it and let it set for a minute. Once it's tacky (gasket doesn't slide around), set the valve cover down on the head (no RTV on the head side)and slowly tighten the nuts/bolts lightly in an alternating pattern. Use a 1/4" ratchet to keep from overtorqueing and breaking something. You don't have to worry as much as if you had stamped steel valve covers, but if you use valve cover studs they're generally pretty soft and break easily.

 

Good to know, I'll pick up a set.

 

If you are going with studs and nuts, I much prefer the steel core rubber gaskets which are less leak prone and reusable. The absolute best gaskets are the OEM Ford printoseal rubber on steel used in the 5.0 mustangs. A bit expensive at $22 a side though. But you never have to replace them....

 

Do both valve covers have holes in them?

 

You don't need to use any type of sealant on valve cover gaskets. Trust me. None. Snug the bolts until you see/feel the gasket expanding.

 

sorry to butt in.....Ive done this change a few times on previous mustangs. As you all have said, its pretty straight forward. However, yesturday I went to take off my cobra aluminum valve covers and they wouldnt budge! All bolts are out and it appears to be a cork gasket under there. Anyone have a good way of rastling these things off if they get stuck? Feels like the PO literally semented them on.....

Nabster.....Hope this doesnt happen to you!