What's better: cork or rubber valve cover gaskets...

[rnch]

.....for my '65 352 engine?

[Lanny]

Try to rip a cork one in half.
Then try to rip a good rubber one in half.

I would use a good rubber gasket









.

[darrell]

you can also reuse a rubber gasket

[prpmmp]

I was taught to grease up a cork gasket and been doing it for years with real good results!! Pete

[mikhett]

Best valve cover gaskets I have found are REAL GASKETS.MADE IN TENNESSEE. THEY SOLVED MY 390 FE VALVE COVER LEAKS.NO LEAKS SINCE 2007.

[Hot Rod Reverend]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Rubber gaskets are good for y block valve covers because of making valve adjustments along the way and the gaskets are reusable for sure.

[Ole Don]

First, you need a rocker cover that is flat on the bottom. Then, it must be clean. Sandpaper it clean, shiny metal clean. Test fit a cork gasket to make sure its right, then attach the cork with 3 M trim cement. Let if set, then spray the cork with WD 40. Let it sit, then spray it again until it is saturated. Install the rocker cover to a clean surface, and do not over tighten the fasteners. It will not leak, and it can be removed and replaced a number of times over several years.

[bobss396]

I have Dart heads on my Ford, bought a whole top end kit. Their gaskets are cork, but 2X thicker than regular ones.

I glued them to the valve covers with RTV and am using nothing on the head mating surface. I use spreader clamps and actually torqued the bolts.

The rubber ones are okay too, those you can adhere to the covers. The biggest sin is over-torquing them and bending the thin covers.

[Ole Don]

Young guys need to print out the last sentence from Bobss396 post, then staple it to the wall in sixteen places.

[Hot Rod Reverend]

Originally Posted by Ole Don

Young guys need to print out the last sentence from Bobss396 post, then staple it to the wall in sixteen places.

I have lost track on the number of valve covers I have fixed over the years after seeing that some gorilla had turned them into bananas!!!!

[bobss396]

Learned the hard way. I never torqued valve covers in my life until this build, looked it up and went by the numbers. So far so good.

[hardlyrider]

Someone told me ramshorns are h**l on the lower part of the valve cover gasket. Which material holds up better to the heat?

[rnch]

Originally Posted by Ole Don

First, you need a rocker cover that is flat on the bottom. Then, it must be clean. Sandpaper it clean, shiny metal clean. Test fit a cork gasket to make sure its right, then attach the cork with 3 M trim cement. Let if set, then spray the cork with WD 40. Let it sit, then spray it again until it is saturated. Install the rocker cover to a clean surface, and do not over tighten the fasteners. It will not leak, and it can be removed and replaced a number of times over several years.

Yup! When I changed the leaking one yesterday; i held up a small metal ruler on the lip; had to "adjust" two high spots due to someone cranking down too hard.

I used new lock washers and torqued 'em down to the factory shop manual specs....and NO tighter.

[Alaska Jim]

did you use a flat washer between the valve cover and the lock washer? doing so, will help to keep the valve cover from deforming.

[greenpondmike]

I have used rubber, cork/rubber and cork. The unimproved pure cork fel-pro gaskets work the best and have reused the present one 3 or 4 times. I just stagger tighten them from front to back and back to front and then do a final recheck the same way. I use a 1/4 drive ratchet and hold it at the head with just a little thumb pressure on handle near the head. Works great and since I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed I pray and I get some good answers on how to do stuff.

Edit: From my understanding the improved cork is the cork/rubber one--I used it and was not impressed. Sometimes old teck is the best teck.

[54vicky]

I am pretty sure they figured it out by now post is 4 years old

[Lanny]

The original poster has been waiting for the last reply

.

[greenpondmike]

Lol, I just don't know how y'all got along without me. Nah, I knew the post was old, but I just wanted to throw in my $0.02 and plus it would put it back on top so y'all could come back and rag me a little. Hello to y'all...

[Lanny]

Hello, back at ya. Welcome to the Barn..





.

[greenpondmike]

Thank you Lanny