Paul,
I learned that trick (actually a variation on it) back in the
middle seventies when I started racing a Spridget from a veteran
Spridget racer at the time. His variation is to coat the bottom of the
gasket and the mating surface of the head with liberal amounts of motor
oil. Then install the cover to the head loosely. After it sets up
overnight, you have a perfect seal and don't have to re-apply anything
since there is usually a little bit of oil around to keep the cork nice
and pliable.
On a typical race weekend we have the valve cover off after each
session or four times. We set up my son's Spridget valve cover that way
when we built his motor 3 seasons ago, or on and off over at least 40
times and the gasket looks as good as when we put it on the first time.
Regards,
Tom Speed
www.MGRacer.com
'76 Midget (Son's Restored Driver)
'66 Midget SCCA Racer (SpeedRacer)
'84 Chevy S-10 (Tows SpeedRacer)
-----Original Message-----
From owner-spridgets-mod at autox.team.net
[mailto:owner-spridgets-mod@autox.team.net] On Behalf Of
ptegler@cablespeed
Sent: Saturday, April 26, 2003 5:08 PM
To: spridgets@autox.team.net
Subject: silicone valve cover gaskets - made easy! - and by accident!
I've inadvertently created an easy way to make your
own, silicone cover gaskets!
I usually silicone my valve cover gasket to the cover.
I sit it on the bench over night to dry before installing.
I then use Permatex Blue Hylomar on the head to
gasket seal surface.
Well I noticed this cover was leaking (found to be warped), so
that method didn't work.
When putting everything back together, I followed
my normal course and applied a sparse coat of Blue Hylomar
to the surface of the head where the gasket sits. I was
then interrupted by a phone call.
Now back to it, and now remembering the cover was a
bit warped I applied a bead of silicone to the gasket surface.
I sit the cover in place on the engine, but allow the silicone to set
up (overnight) before tightening the bolts.
Well, as you can guess, since I had forgotten about already
Hylomar'ing the head, the silicone did not stick to it at all!
So now I have a silicone gasket (made of cork and silicone)
that fits perfectly every time, and has now been removed
and replaced 5 times with no leaks. AND... I only need
finger tightening on the cover bolts to have it seal.
So..it's valve cover to silicone to cork gasket to silicone
to Hylomar to head metal.
clear as mud right! :^)
Paul Tegler
ptegler@cablespeed.com
www.teglerizer.com
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