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Best valve cover gasket for 305

andyblack

andyblack

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I've been noticing some smoke coming out from under the hood/left front wheel well, so I looked under there and it was clear that oil was running down onto the collector part of the header and burning and smoking. Time to change the valve cover gasket I suppose. What kind of valve cover gasket does everyone recommend for an '85 stock 305 with stock heads and valve covers? Seems like I remember replacing them a few years back but I can't recall if I used paper or cork. What would be my best option to prevent future leaks for as long as possible? I have heard of rubber and synthetic gaskets too. Are those any better? Also what is a valve cover load spreader? Is this something I may want to use?
 
andyblack said:
I've been noticing some smoke coming out from under the hood/left front wheel well, so I looked under there and it was clear that oil was running down onto the collector part of the header and burning and smoking. Time to change the valve cover gasket I suppose. What kind of valve cover gasket does everyone recommend for an '85 stock 305 with stock heads and valve covers? Seems like I remember replacing them a few years back but I can't recall if I used paper or cork. What would be my best option to prevent future leaks for as long as possible? I have heard of rubber and synthetic gaskets too. Are those any better? Also what is a valve cover load spreader? Is this something I may want to use?
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Somehting like this, can't go wrong. I use the oil pan version also.

fe1628.jpg
 
I have those felpro rubber gaskets for the valve covers and the oil pan sitting here in my garage if you need them. They are used but not damaged.
Pay for the shipping and they are yours.
 
readymix said:
I have those felpro rubber gaskets for the valve covers and the oil pan sitting here in my garage if you need them. They are used but not damaged.
Pay for the shipping and they are yours.
Click to expand...

Hey thanks for the offer but I really need to get them done today, so the local parts store is where I'm going after work. Do you think the rubber is the best bet or what?
 
Cool. I'll give them a try. Again thanks for the offer. I'll let you know if things change and I need to get them from you.
 
andyblack said:
Cool. I'll give them a try. Again thanks for the offer. I'll let you know if things change and I need to get them from you.
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Yes i should have added that they are rubber:haha:. You will never have a problem with these gaskests they rock:pimp:. Assuming the tins not all mangled.
 
livid4dirt said:
Yes i should have added that they are rubber:haha:. You will never have a problem with these gaskests they rock:pimp:. Assuming the tins not all mangled.
Click to expand...

I seem to remember them looking okay last time I had them off but it's been a while.

So does anyone know what a valve cover load spreader is?
 
andyblack said:
I seem to remember them looking okay last time I had them off but it's been a while.

So does anyone know what a valve cover load spreader is?
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It's a little extra piece of metal that acts like a big washer and spreads the clamping force out away from bolt hole.
 
Everytime I attempted to use the rubber gaskets, they leaked, they move too much I think. Always ended up using cork in the end. Just a tad, super thin layer of rtv on the cover side to help hold the gasket in place, clean and perfectly dry the head surface, I mean absolutely nothing where the gasket sits. They never leaked after that.
 
Is it something that would help prevent future leaks? Can it be used with the rubber gaskets?
 
andyblack said:
Is it something that would help prevent future leaks? Can it be used with the rubber gaskets?
Click to expand...
Yes they help, also inside the gasket bolt hole. There is a sleeve that keeps you from over tightening the bolt. I never had no problems with these type gaskets moving around,
 
4xcrazy said:
Everytime I attempted to use the rubber gaskets, they leaked, they move too much I think. Always ended up using cork in the end. Just a tad, super thin layer of rtv on the cover side to help hold the gasket in place, clean and perfectly dry the head surface, I mean absolutely nothing where the gasket sits. They never leaked after that.
Click to expand...

I think the problem is that my rings are so far gone that I have a lot of oil blowing past the pistons and it eventually got the gaskets soaked so bad they started leaking.

Actually just he driver's side seem to be pouring oil out at the moment. I know I'm just putting a band aid on the old engine. Pretty sure it's never been rebuilt and the odometer reads 89,000. I assume that's 189,000 but I don't know. 289,000 is possible I suppose.
 
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