The problem isn't the gasket, it is the valve cover. Or possibly the cylinder head depending on which head you are using. Factory cast iron heads are horrible for leaks, aftermarket aluminum head typically have a machined rail and shouldn't leak. Factory steel valve covers are almost impossible to keep from leaking as are many of the cheap valve covers on the market. High quality valve covers don't leak regardless of the gasket used. Cheap valve covers will leak regardless of which gasket you use. I fought valve cover leaks for years and then finally figured out the solution and now I never have any leaks.I've tried rubber coated cork and cork with rtv on them and the drivers just drips
How much were your valve covers to have CNC?
The secret is a rigid valve cover with a thick flange. If you have a good valve cover you can use any gasket and have no leaks. I use Cometic valve cover gaskets but Superformance will work as will some of the FelPro gaskets. Even the Moroso gasket will seal with these valve covers.
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The secret is a rigid valve cover with a thick flange. If you have a good valve cover you can use any gasket and have no leaks. I use Cometic valve cover gaskets but Superformance will work as will some of the FelPro gaskets. Even the Moroso gasket will seal with these valve covers.
View attachment 1715587992
View attachment 1715587993
Yeah if the headers are close to the gasket then that will kill them quick. I had a car like that once so started using the Mopar motor home exhaust gaskets. The motor home exhaust gaskets have a built in heat shield that protects the valve cover gaskets. It doesn't totally solve the problem but it helps the gaskets live for a year or so rather than just one race.Ur covers are kick a$$, but w/ raised port heads , and 2'' headers , all those soft gaskets burned up on mine. The only ones that have stood up are hughs burn proof and a pair of hard felpro gaskets that look and feel just like the hughs gasket , since I removed the dam header wrap, (I hate that stuff) , still have to tighten the covers down after a few heat cycles , a little titer than a guy can tighten a screw driver . Running crankcase vacuum helps a "WHOLE " BUNCH !
Yeah if the headers are close to the gasket then that will kill them quick. I had a car like that once so started using the Mopar motor home exhaust gaskets. The motor home exhaust gaskets have a built in heat shield that protects the valve cover gaskets. It doesn't totally solve the problem but it helps the gaskets live for a year or so rather than just one race.
Yeah if the headers are close to the gasket then that will kill them quick. I had a car like that once so started using the Mopar motor home exhaust gaskets. The motor home exhaust gaskets have a built in heat shield that protects the valve cover gaskets. It doesn't totally solve the problem but it helps the gaskets live for a year or so rather than just one race.
If you try to use rigid cast aluminum covers on stock heads which are often not machined, you can almost never stop the leaking. In that case use stamped sheet metal valve covers and install them like RRR showed above.
If using cast/machined covers on machined heads, well they really should never leak. I like those Moroso Perm-Align gaskets with no sealer at all.