Classic Mustangs List Archive

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Mail From: Ian Potts (email redacted)

Hello,

I recently bought a 66 mustang coupe and have noticed some oil leaking
from what appears to be the valve covers, I tightened the bolts but the
leaks continue. A friend has a 68 w/289 same problem, is there a way to
fix this annoying problem? Thanks

Ian Potts - (email redacted)

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Mail From: Collins, Jack L. MAJ (email redacted)

If you leave it alone, eventually all the oil will be gone, and it will stop
leaking <grin>.

But seriously, you probably need new gaskets. They eventually get hard and
start to leak.

If you have steel covers, you may need to do a little light hammer and dolly
work to straighten the flanges so that they seal properly. Also, on the
steel covers, if you don't mind a non-original look, I use the long, flat
chevy style valve cover washer to distribute the force of the holddown bolt
over a wider area.

Valve cover gaskets is a simple job, normally an hour or so to pull, clean
and replace, with most of that spent on the cleaning. Just be careful not
to overtighten the bolts. You can break them, distort the cover, or distort
the gasket. I've inadvertently done all three.

Some people like cork, some like rubber gaskets. I like the new silicone
gaskets. They don't harden as quickly, they seem to seal better, and most
are made with a steel insert to help retain the shape. The downside:
expensive. Could cost >$30 a pair vs. <$10 for cork.

Jack

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ian Potts [SMTPemail redacted)]
> Sent: Monday, June 22, 1998 3:50 PM
> To: Collins, Jack L. MAJ
> Subject: [CM:11972] 289 Valve Cover oil leaks
>
> Hello,
>
> I recently bought a 66 mustang coupe and have noticed some oil leaking
> from what appears to be the valve covers, I tightened the bolts but the
> leaks continue. A friend has a 68 w/289 same problem, is there a way to
> fix this annoying problem? Thanks
>
> Ian Potts - (email redacted)
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> All the list info you'll ever want: antler.moose.to/~server/cm

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This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: (email redacted) (email redacted)

In a message dated 98-06-22 02:51:52 EDT, you write:

<<
I recently bought a 66 mustang coupe and have noticed some oil leaking
from what appears to be the valve covers, I tightened the bolts but the
leaks continue. A friend has a 68 w/289 same problem, is there a way to
fix this annoying problem? Thanks

Ian Potts - (email redacted)
>>

replace the gaskets. Its a 20 minute job. I like the cork ones, but you can
get them in rubber also.

Tom C
'65 k fastback
'82 GT

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Mail From: Rich (email redacted)


Along with replacing the gaskets over time the cover gets bent out of shape
at the bolt holes so while the cover bolts are tight the rest of the cover
does not make a good seal. Turn the cover upside down with a flat surface
under the lip that the bolts go through and use a small hammer to
straighten the lip backout. If you get this all flattened out the leak
will go away.


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This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: (email redacted) (email redacted)

>Hello,
>
>I recently bought a 66 mustang coupe and have noticed some oil leaking
>from what appears to be the valve covers, I tightened the bolts but the
>leaks continue. A friend has a 68 w/289 same problem, is there a way to
>fix this annoying problem? Thanks
>
>Ian Potts - (email redacted)

A new set of gaskets will probably do the trick - as others suggested. I
always use a thin coating of Permatex (blue Silicon - removeable) on both
sides of the gasket. I also prefer cork, mainly because they do not
"crush" like rubber when you torque the bolts.

Jeff Kennard... (email redacted)
'69 Mach I SCJ





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