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New Valve Cover

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Why .. do Ray's valve covers leak? (careful how you answer.. Ray may come by and stick a bat up your night shirt!)

Cheers,
John

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Well John, I have both the original finned aluinum valve cover and the aftermarket DMH inscribed one hanging on the wall because the flat mating surface between the cover and the block are difficult to seal up with the gasket creeping all over.Over the years viewing cars that use this type cover shows they leak also.Basically, I am a systems type it is nice to have all the problems inside the design envelope before you start to improve things. On the other hand,it is a very very nice piece of hardware,typical of Ray.---Keoke
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OK John, thats good.If you do talk to Ray see if its feasible to machine an "O" Ring grove in the mating surface of the cover,or what ever to circumvent the use of the original cork gasket.--Keoke
 
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Did he give you a cover?

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Ray's a great guy and he offered me some sort of deal when I want a cover. One of these days when I start to 'pimp my ride' I'll give him a call. Right now I'm in the 'unpimp my ride' mode.

Cheers,
John
 
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Over the years viewing cars that use this type cover shows they leak also.

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I have no idea what type of gasket Ray is using or recommending. I just dropped him a note so maybe he'll drop by and impart some info, wisdom or at least a few jokes into this thread. Stay tuned ....

Cheers,
John
 
Well I have had ZERO leaks with Ray's cover...
which is to say /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif it's been on my car about 10 days, engine has been started 3 times, and driven nowhere (still in fixing and tweaking stuff mode before getting adventurous) /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
Forum: Glad you guys like the valve covers. That was the whole point of making them as it's more work than profit. Sorry about the lack of "O" ring groove. I'm sure you could put one in if you want. I recomend using the stock gasket and gluing it to the valve cover with Hylomar or some other gasket sealer. Make sure the head surface is clean and you should get a good seal. you can reuse the gasket several times as it will come off with the cover. The only leaking problems I have heard about were the first two or three covers that went out before I started machining the gasket surface flat. There was some warpage that I caught as a result of feedback from the first users. The cast aluminum is pretty stiff and the gasket surface is dead flat so hand tight with the knobs should seal things up OK.
Thanks again fot all the nice comments.
Ray Juncal
PS you guys don't sign your names half the time so I dont know who you are. Maybe I'll figure it out given time.
 
Hi Ray,
I pretty sure the address was 2412 Berkeley. This was back in 1990. Lived there for about 6 months. The guy that lived in the house behind me (West Arkeen) had written at least one song for Guns & Roses.
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He finally got a record deal for himself. After I moved, I learned he had died from a drug OD. Current events: Moved about 10 miles West and am in the process of restoring/ modifying a BJ8.
 
HI Ray, welcome to the forum. If you are sure that an "O" ring groove can be put in the cover why not do it!--Keoke- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Sorry about the lack of "O" ring groove. I'm sure you could put one in if you want. I recomend using the stock gasket and gluing it to the valve cover with Hylomar or some other gasket sealer.
Ray Juncal
PS you guys don't sign your names half the time so I dont know who you are. Maybe I'll figure it out given time.

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Hi Ray,
I prefer to glue the gasket to the head with something fairly permanent such as Permatex #3H, & then use something removable such as Hylomar between the gasket & cover. Having the gasket sealed to the head provides a dam to prevent oil from running out onto the head when the cover is off.

I've never had any trouble with the cork gasket leaking in the first place. Of course I'm using the cheap stamped cover. I think an O ring that large would be an unnecessary expense & bother & it would still probably need to be glued in place. No matter how you do it, "someone" will complain.

Will your 100-4 cover accept a sealed vent cap with a hose fitting so that I could vent it to my 100M cold air box?

There is always some kind of user/sender ID on the upper left of the post. If necessary, you can use the "Quote" reply & edit it as necessary, to identify what you are responding to.
Regards,
D
 
Well Dave, this is a case where you can have your cake and eat it too.Adding the "O" ring groove to the cover will not preclude using the cork gasket for those that like gluing and screwing around with the cover and gasket.---Keoke- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Trying to keep a 50 inch long O ring in place is not my idea of easy. If the O ring groove is not deep enough to hold more than 50% of the ring diameter, the ring will be all over the place & it will likely need to be glued in place anyway. With the small diameter ring required to fit in the available cover groove space, there will not likely be much ring left to compress for sealing. Guess you could use a rectangular groove & ring to fit into the width of the bottom cover flange & still have it stick out enough to give good compression. Added cost?

Have you ever noticed that the top head to cover surface is not perfectly square & flat. The rigid aluminum cover will not flex much to make up errors. The engines are not jet engine precision. Just being contrary, have it any way you wish. Bet you will end up using the cork anyway.
D
 
Ain"t no problem Dave got em on the Daimler V8 and they work a treat. On the other hand, the aftermarket cork gaskets supplied as an economic alternative Leak like sieves. However, an alternaive to the "O" ring would be a silicone fitted gasket like all the Triumph boys now have access to---Keoke- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif
 
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Forum: you guys don't sign your names half the time so I dont know who you are. Maybe I'll figure it out given time.

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bighly = Tracy - Just like my California plates

Anxiously awaiting the Monterey Historics. By the way cool pics of the Siata club run. Can I put them up on my website?
Tracy's web page
 
Keoke, Putting in an "o"ring groove would add to the cost which is already higher than I would like. I have heard that there are 1425 ways to skin a cat. If you want an "o" ring I am sure that a groove, square or half round can be milled in the cover if you want.

Jedi Warrior, who would have known it was you? Sure post the Siata pics.

Dave, Yes it is possible to put a 3/8" pipe nipple in the side of the cover and vent to the cold air box. You could use one of the billet filler caps from the six cylinder cover. (see web page <healeyray.com>) If you decide to do this let me know and I will fill in the details.

Greg, Hi ex-neighbor!

Regards
Ray
 
Now Ray, thats what I call service. I fought there for a moment we scared you away /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif. You know I still have the little Aluminum Jack that you made and the Late Jim Albeck and I purchased one from you long time ago.Still works!-I will confer with my chief Mechanical Eng up the street and we will see which way to go on the gasket.Prolly drop by and see you. Take care and thanks for the consideration--Regards --Keoke- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
 
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