Hello folks,
I'm about ready to install the original valve covers on my 69 442. I would like to know what gasket set you guys have found to be the best no leak gaskets.
Also the covers have a long cut out on one and a short cut out on the other. Which cover goes to the drivers side?

Have any of you used the inline tube exhaust manifold heat riser? Does it fit and look original?
Thanks for any/all replies

 

Jerry, short notch, driver side rear, long notch pass side rear. I like to use a cork/rubber composite type gasket. no help on the ILT riser though.

 

Thanks tru-blue

 

big block chevelle guy here, new to olds, always liked the cork gaskets

 

I just picked these up:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/e...0aAgKREALw_wcB

I have yet to install them on the new notched covers I got from OPGI, which I will paint this week. I got this increased thickness gaskets re: concerns about clearing the Comp Cams roller tip kit. They dwarf the similar Fel Pro cork gaskets in a side-by-side comparo. I'm looking forward to trying out this premium product.

 

Far more important than gasket material choice is simply not overtorquing the bolts. Factory spec is 7 ft-lb. More than that distorts the valve cover rail and pretty much negates whatever gasket you've selected. New covers will have a straight rail but used ones should be carefully checked and straightened if necessary before installing.

 

Joe As a airplane mechanic for more than 50 years, I know the importance of using a torque wrench. I have all of my high quality torque wrenches calibrated annually and before using again if dropped. The cost is well worth it.

 

Sadly, many others do not. The typical response to leaking valve covers it to tighten the bolts more.

 

I took some side-by-side pictures of a FelPro 13403 cork and an Edelbrock 7598 composite:

https://flic.kr/s/aHsm4KNucH

Last night I put (with gorilla snot) the cork gaskets on a regular (non-notched) set of 10-bolt covers - this for mock-up purposes while I get my bracketry finalized.

I will report back re: clearance of these "regular covers with regular gaskets" above the Comp Cams 1-442 kit.

This will be a baseline against the clearance of the "OPGI notched covers with composite thick gaskets". I've yet to locate Edelbrock factory instructions re: what bonding agent to use (if any) between the composite gasket and the valve cover...vaseline, perhaps?

 

It's difficult to gauge the thickness differences in those photos. Any shots from directly on edge?

 

this was the best one i got - my photography skills are lacking:


the edelbrock is thick and sexy. the felpro seems rinky dink by comparison

 

I've just now ordered the Fel Pro valve cover-gaskets, so now I just need to find out about the quality of the inline tube manifold heat riser, and find the riser tube to the air cleaner. I want to get my engine bay back to all original.
Thanks for the replies.

 

Joe What ill effects will my stock air cleaner suffer if I do not use the manifold heat riser shroud and tube? I do have the complete crankcase ventilation and pcv system except for the vacuum sensor inside the air cleaner.
I think it's all gonna look great when all is installed.
Thanks to all for your replies.

 

I got around to replacing my valve covers and air cleaner with the originals.
I think that they look pretty good.
For those who care I miced(measured) the gaskets as follows Fel Pro 13403 @ .127 Edelbrock 7598 .250
I used the Edelbrock