LUVTruck.com

Gonna do some general tightening this weekend. Think I read somewhere about the valve cover retaining a bit of oil after shutdown. What I am wondering is, can the valve cover be removed without making a huge mess. Or does the oil need to be drained before removing? And will the valve cover gasket survive?

Plan is to check/torque my headbolts, since I have no idea if or when they ever had been.

TIA

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FIAA: Color Guard

There is nothing wrong with doing a little preventive maintenance once in a while...good idea.

Once the engine is off, the oil all drains down into the block so if you take the cover off carefully and have a rag handy, you shouldn't make any mess. Then while you are there, you might as well check your torque on your rocker assembly bolts and adjust your valve clearances while you have the cover off.

Then you can clean the inside and the outside of the cover off real good, and maybe give the outside a new real purdy paint job..lol

And never ever put the cover back on without replacing the valve cover gasket set...unless you like real messy oil leaks.

Is there a particular brand you recommend, or am I looking at making a gasket?

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FIAA: Color Guard

Felpro gaskets are pretty good and I would personally recommend an all-rubber gasket if you can find it, just because they tend to last longer and seal better.

But if you can't, then get a good quality cork one, together with the complete set, so you can replace the little half-circle shaped rubber seals at each end of the head and the rubber seals around the cover bolts too or it will still leak.

BTW...despite what you may have heard...don't silicone the gasket or it will leak. Never use silicone on a gasket for any part that seals in oil or fuel...it doesn't work and it pollutes your system.

Silicone is for sloppy lazy cheapskates that don't take the time or spend the money to do things right, or try to re-use old worn-out gaskets.

If you must use it, use silicone for water pump and thermostat gaskets...which really don't need it either if you have cleaned and prepped your mating surfaces properly and you have a decent new gasket.

I have a tube that has lasted me for over 4 years and is still over 3/4 full...and nothing I have ever worked on has ever leaked...and it wouldn't be on my bench at all if someone else hadn't bought it and left it here...lol

Just finished with the re-torque, checked and adjusted valves... only found a tiny bit adjustment needed on #1 exhaust, #3&4 intake.


Picked up a new gasket set today, will let the new paint on the valve cover setup and reassemble tomorrow.


Carb is next, and then the countdown to my repaint project starting the weekend of March 12th.

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FIAA: Color Guard

hay , looks nice... good job

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My old but now gone Luv...

Thanks Taz, all I could find was a full set, Felpro cork.

Took your advice about skipping the gasket goo. Any idea on the torque?
Or just snug?

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FIAA: Color Guard

And the install is complete, no as orange as the camera makes it look. Also added some new plug wires.

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FIAA: Color Guard

Looks good, mine is next, if I don't get it powder coated, I have a guy going to do it for 20.00.

I stripped mine down and used Chromalusion paint on mine. Also did the breather cover. Turned out pretty good, I'm happy with it.

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1980 LUV Mikado 4X4
2003 Chevy S10
http://www.luvtruck.com/Gallery/ChrisGo ... index.html

http://www.myspace.com/luvmikado

looks like a theme going on here

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My old but now gone Luv...

Whoo WHOO WHOO!! I LUV it!! Hmmm, what should I do? We'll see!

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'78 1.8L 4-speed Fleetside

The only thing more beautiful than a sunset is a sunrise.

I did both of mine a perfect nice black paint job. And then chipped them all up with the hoist chain upon eng. installation.
Maybe some day I'll do it again.

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OK, I'm over it. Where's the beer?

That has to be one of the cleanest engine bays that I have ever seen.

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1980 LUV Mikado 4X4
2003 Chevy S10
http://www.luvtruck.com/Gallery/ChrisGo ... index.html

http://www.myspace.com/luvmikado

its really messy and dirty but thanks ... one day it will be clean though

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My old but now gone Luv...

I'm gonna have to do mine now,,,,That looks too good to resist !!! Nice job guys !!!

Well, I was all proud after I got this truck, realizing after 27 years it didn't have a single oil leak.

Guess I started one after replacing the valve cover, I did not use any RTV or other sealant, just the cork Felpro gasket along with the "half moons" at each end. I kinda think that's where the leak is coming from. Just a small bit on the timing cover and water pump. Most of the leaking that has reached class 3 is coming from the top tranny bell housing and making it's way down.

Wondering if I should have used some goo on those rubber half moon seals?

Oh, and seeing how it has finaly rained here for the first time since I got the Luv in Dec 06, I am bummed to say I am a member of the mystery leaking cab club. Driver side bottom corner/windshiled is where it is coming in. I have tried a few attempts with the capilitating silicone sealant, just when I think "that's got to do it". .......drip. I found 800xl's wiper boot fix, may try that after work. Glad I bedlinered the tub a few weeks ago

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FIAA: Color Guard

link to the wiper boot fix, mine are toast...
http://forums.luvtruck.com/viewtopic.ph ... ight=wiper

Nevermind