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Girl Mechanic Problems...

ThatDimeChickInAK5

ThatDimeChickInAK5

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Location
Gallatin, TN
So I bought a 78' K5 and have some issues:

1. I swapped the valve cover gaskets and it won't stop leaking oil. I did this TWICE (the first time I assumed I torqued them too much, so I did it again)...didn't help...the oil is coming from the back of the motor but the cause doesn't appear to be the valve cover gaskets. Any ideas on where else it could be coming from?

2. I have a cowl hood and it's blocking my wipers from operating. Before you ask, yes I even moved the hood forward, did it for nothing...is there a wiper arm available that may be 'lower profile'?
 
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Let’s talk valve covers. What gasket did you use? Is it possible that the gasket did not stay lined up with the valve cover before you tightened it?
 
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being a 78, I'm guessing it has stamped steel valve covers with perimeter bolts.. once they get overtightened.. ever... it depresses the area around the bolts.. they often wont seal after... ya pull them off and metal work the edge with a hammer and block of metal, etc... also run the blue silicone gaskets from felpro whenever possible..

and yeah, it would actually be more likely the oil pressure sending unit is leaking next to the dizzy...

hood, eh, pics would help.. factory metal ones are pretty thin.. i've never heard of that.. is it a 4"?
 
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Bent77 said:
Let’s talk valve covers. What gasket did you use? Is it possible that the gasket did not stay lined up with the valve cover before you tightened it?
Click to expand...
Negative, I used painters tape to secure the gasket to the cover & then removed it carefully after I tightened the bolts by hand. The tape came out whole. I used Fel-Pro rubber gaskets.
 
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ryoken said:
being a 78, I'm guessing it has stamped steel valve covers with perimeter bolts.. once they get overtightened.. ever... it depresses the area around the bolts.. they often wont seal after... ya pull them off and metal work the edge with a hammer and block of metal, etc... also run the blue silicone gaskets from felpro whenever possible..

and yeah, it would actually be more likely the oil pressure sending unit is leaking next to the dizzy...

hood, eh, pics would help.. factory metal ones are pretty thin.. i've never heard of that.. is it a 4"?
Click to expand...
It is a 4 inch and I don't believe they're factory arms, possibly replicas.
 
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ryoken said:
being a 78, I'm guessing it has stamped steel valve covers with perimeter bolts.. once they get overtightened.. ever... it depresses the area around the bolts.. they often wont seal after... ya pull them off and metal work the edge with a hammer and block of metal, etc... also run the blue silicone gaskets from felpro whenever possible..

and yeah, it would actually be more likely the oil pressure sending unit is leaking next to the dizzy...

hood, eh, pics would help.. factory metal ones are pretty thin.. i've never heard of that.. is it a 4"?
Click to expand...
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mgDjgfAL07k4s2csSh4j-NFJWItTutBa/view?usp=sharing
Hopefully this link will take you to the photo...I'm not a PM so I can't add one
 
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I'd clean the surface with brake clean and re-do the valve covers.
Or if it's not just spraying oil and it's just a drip, I say just live with it unless it's leaking a lot and causing smoke from the burning oil.

You could dust the block after cleaning with baby powder and see where the oil is coming from... messy by works
 
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TJ1978 said:
I'd clean the surface with brake clean and re-do the valve covers.
Or if it's not just spraying oil and it's just a drip, I say just live with it unless it's leaking a lot and causing smoke from the burning oil.

You could dust the block after cleaning with baby powder and see where the oil is coming from... messy by works
Click to expand...
It's just dripping...there's no smoke when I'm driving, even when I really get down on it. After I changed the oil it blew white/blue burning off the old crap, however, I just went back outside and ran my fingers around the cover, it's leaking from there. I'm going to soak the old one (it's original to the truck) and put it back on. And look for the BLUE Fel-Pro gasket.
 
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Well the truck looks awesome. Instead of the tape trick, I usually run a thin bead of silicone on the head side (brake cleaner liberally) put the gasket on the head, and put the vc down
 
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ThatDimeChickInAK5 said:
It's just dripping...there's no smoke when I'm driving, even when I really get down on it. After I changed the oil it blew white/blue burning off the old crap, however, I just went back outside and ran my fingers around the cover, it's leaking from there. I'm going to soak the old one (it's original to the truck) and put it back on. And look for the BLUE Fel-Pro gasket.
Click to expand...
I would redo the gaskets, if they're old get new ones and alternate tightening them down. If they're new, and it were me I wouldn't even worry about it. Just make your oil level is fine and it's not soaking your starter and drive.

I have my ocd with these trucks and somethings you have to just accept it's old and they will leak and not worry. I have a 78 as well, and it drips from a few places and I just don't worry about it. I can add fluid. But other things I obsess on as others here can attest to... pick your battles.

hahahahahahahahahah
 
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You can also try the "spreaders" they distribute pressure over a larger section in hopes to reduce to eliminate leaks.
They increase the area clamped

Fel-Pro blue gasket:




68C6E0B9-9894-4AF7-8A63-39B84E9B144E.jpeg
 
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As a rule I hate rtv with a gasket.
That said I now glue the valve cover gaskets on with a thin coating of rtv. I normally smearit on with my finger, to remove excess rtv, both sides. For stock type tin covers.
I always smooth out the bolt holes in tin valve covers, to return them to a neutral position, they concave when tightened. Use an 8 oz ballpeen, round side on hole, then give the flat side a smack with a soft faced mallet, while holding the whole mess at the edge of a work bench to support where you are "adjusting" the tin.
The spreaders are nice, I use them. Yes you can over tighten the valve covers. 20 inch pounds @ is all that is needed.
Good luck and welcome.
Going to check or your pictures now.
 
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