jduvall88

Can these be put on wrong? I just replaced mine (along with a bolt for the cover) and when I started the car up and it got warm (oil thinned) it started leaking out of the bottom (nearest the header) really badly.

Did I put the gasket on wrong? Or did I maybe just over tighten the bolts and not have to redo the gasket yet again?

I used rubber gaskets with installation tabs (the instructions said not to use RTV if you had the tabs)

Is it possible that my covers just worn and needs replacing?

kalli

if you have crappy covers they'll never be straight once the bolt was 'overdone'. but if it's leaking real bad I'd say the gasket slipped while you mounted it. when you shoved the gasket out of the way with the bolt (which can easily happen) the gasket is inside of the cover and oil will spill all over the place. Once you remove the rocker cover you'll see what happened as cork gaskets have an imprint of the cover. and yes. no RTV, just simple cork gaskets and don't overdo the bolts

jduvall88

Its a rubber gasket not cork.

I guess I'll pull the cover back off (should I drain the oil again? I just changed it last night) and try reseating it

kalli

no. no need at all to drain the oil. rubber gaskets are ok as well. some prefer them. you mkight just have lost a tiny bit, so see if you need to top up when done (probably not even needed). you can change valve cover gaskets without spilling a drop of oil. just remove, inspect the gasket and try again

67t5ponycoupe

If you are using the stamped steel valve cover the spot where the valve cover bolt goes through tends to get distorted. You can use a hammer and dolley and make sure that area is flat before reinstalling. That may help you.

67mustang302

Spend the money and cast aluminum valve covers and Fel Pro 1 piece rubber with a steel core gaskets and you'll never have valve cover leaks again. It's a constant problem with stamped covers, especially on the center bolt style SBC valve covers.

2+2GT

I use cork gaskets on my 289HP. I'm still using the original chromed steel covers. The high-quality cork composite gaskets are much more compliant than the rubber ones, great for following those 45 year old imperfections. I remove the covers every 3000 miles to adjust the valves, and I am almost always able to re-install them. Half-a-dozen times is not unusual.