Valve cover gaskets - Brand ? - Rubber / Cork ?

[Capriman86]

I plan to clean my valve covers when I swap my throttle body/ egr spacer.
I am going to bead blast the Upper intake as well...not relevant...lol


What brand/type cover gasket do you recommend for a stock EFI cover?
Also should I reuse the stock hold down hardware...or is there something better for stock covers?

I saw some ARP's in another thread....

These.....are they better? will they work?
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...6&autoview=sku

[93-331-29PSI]

I will only use the neoprene style Felpro gaskets. Studs are nice, and keep things lined up, if you want to pay the extra for them.

[Zap's 85 GT]

I'm a believer in the tried and true cork gaskets. They simply require a retorque after a few heat cycles.

Rubber and other expensive gaskets can leak just as well as cork if improper sealing surfaces or techniques are used during instalation.

[paul78zephyr]

I always use Fel Pro VS50029C. These are cork/rubber with crush limiters pre-installed. I coat both sides of the gasket with a THIN layer of Permatex Ultra Blue, install the VCs and let the silicone set up overnight before running the engine. Ive NEVER had a VC leak on my 5.0L. And the stock VC bolts are fine - Im using ARP stainless bolts (not studs), but just for looks. But Im using the stock fasteners that hold the plug wire seperators at those locations (one per side)

Do NOT beadblast the inside of the upper intake. You will NEVER get all the blast out and it will destroy your engine. Even if you are considering doing only the outside I would be VERY carefull in masking off any entry path to the inside. The stock upper is powder coated from the factory - is this what you want to remove? I just had my stock lower bead blasted but NOT the upper. The upper I had jet washed. To bead blast the lower they removed all of the baffles on the bottom side. The lower looks better than new. The upper is clean.

Paul

[Capriman86]

the powder coat on my upper is peeling in places and doesn't look so good now.
I am very aware of the dangers on blast media in the motor but thank you for
that info....it could be catastrophic to someone if not done correctly for sure.

I was going to tape all the port holes off, then i was going air it off, and I have
access to a dunk tank that I can let wash it for an hour just to be safe.

Its no prize engine bay, but with a few things like a clean upper, valve covers,
and clean the oxidizing off the atlernator, power steering pump, tensionor,
etc etc it will make it more presentable I think.

I thought about pulling the lower off, but I don't know if I want to get that deep into it...

[twister]

I will only use the neoprene style Felpro gaskets. Studs are nice, and keep things lined up, if you want to pay the extra for them.

agreed, never had an issue with neoprene

[86_LX]

I have some felpro gaskets I dont know what they are called but they are a blue rubbery kind with a metal part in the middle and stops around the bolts. they are very nice I dont use any adhesive. I also have valve cover studs and they are good too they help line up the valvecover and gasket when putting them on so they dont move also its harder to break a stud then a screw i recommend these also.

[Tbird232ci]

I use nothing but the Ford gaskets for the 99ish Explorer. They are a metal gasket with a bonded o-ring. They work very well, and are reusable.

Ive found that Ford gaskets are very high in quality.

[X-isles]

Fel-Pro always

[48fordnut]

I use a variety of gaskets and v/c .I use threaded rod for my studs. In alum heads i super glue them in so you don't have steel cutting new threads every time you adjust the valves. same for the carb intake.

[ddwood55]

I use nothing but the Ford gaskets for the 99ish Explorer. They are a metal gasket with a bonded o-ring. They work very well, and are reusable.

Ive found that Ford gaskets are very high in quality.

Those are the same gaskets I use. I wouldn't use anything else.

Delos

[Order 66]

I will only use the neoprene style Felpro gaskets. Studs are nice, and keep things lined up, if you want to pay the extra for them.

+1, love these.