Hi,
I'm thinking of painting the valve covers on my 64 Olds Cutlass F-85. But I don't know the proper torque value for the bolts for when I put the valve covers back on. I have a collection of service manuals and I think the proper torque is 7 lbs. But I'm not certain. Can anyone help me out?
Thanks as always.

 

About 5 ft lbs / 60 inch pounds, you'll have trouble using a ft pounds torque wrench on them. Most of us just snug them down good with a 1/4 drive and add a 1/4 to 1/2 turn more.

 

Great. Thank you.

 

....Then check for gasket settle after a few 100 miles. Retighten as needed.
I always use spray gasket adhesive on the valve cover side and dry on the head side, unless it gives you trouble then apply a thin coat of RTV to the head side.

Down the road, this makes the cover and gasket removal easier as you will only wrestle with the rocker cover off of the car and not bent over a fender scraping at a head.

Check the valve cover with a straight edge for warp. Straighten any warp with gentile taps of a very small hammer backed with a pirce of wood. Surface gas to be level for the gasket to seal.