Advice on installing a cork valve cover gasket....

[Blackjokr]

Guys, do I have to lubricate it with something or just put it on??

 

[spritenut]

I made a jig out of a board and a few finish nails.
I use a little silicone sealant on the valve cover side, place it over the nails and weigh it down with something heavy.
Now the gasket stays stuck to the cover so you can remove the cover to adjust the valves in the future.
The nails just keep the gasket conformed to the cover while the goo drys.

 

[Blackjokr]

thanks..is that silicone sealent just typical waterproof stuff? Not sure what to get./.kind of a novice here.

 

[Morris]

I used the Orange Permatex Silicone Gasket maker on mine. I just put the sealer between the cover and the gasket (NOT between the gasket and the head) tightened it down and wiped away all the sealer that was pressed out.

 

[John Moore]

Like the other guys mentioned I usually "glue" it to the cover. Personally, I like Indian Head Gasket Shellac, but that's old school, Permatex gasket sealer also works good. But also, for a new cork gasket, I also put a light smear of grease on the side that goes on the head.

 

[dklawson]

Like Spritenut I put the gasket on a flat surface and put a bead of RTV Silicone on top of the gasket then rest the cover on top of that (with a little weight). I use "blue" RTV as some of the "blue" grades are formulated for oil resistance.

 

[Blackjokr]

You guys rock..can't thank you enough!!

 

[Luke_Healey]

Like most things I want to not leak, I ran blue RTV on the cork gasket and stuck it to the valvecover just like gramma's false teeth to the roof of her mouth.

Then I smeared more RTV on the bottom of it to enable me to glue it to the cylinderhead.

Since the FelPro gaskets are only like 3.50 each at Advance Auto, I made sure to order two in case I messed one up. It's always nice to have a replacement anyway.

 

[Hap Waldrop]

I used about everything over the years on the race cars, black RTV, 3M yellow glue, contact cement, I glue it down on the vlave cover side, with nothing on the head side, and install it back on the head with the valve cover bolts for the glue/silcone to cure. If you using the alloy valve cover that has very little to keep the gasket located, I like the 3M glue or contact cement over silicone products