11-21-2011, 12:24 AM
After looking at the 'before' pics, it is funny how nice things look in pictures. It was an absolute wreck! We removed the windshield frame so that it wouldn't fall off during the race! It is amazing how good fiberglass can cover- um- rust.
Well, there are a few more pics I can show. Here is the 302 all painted up. I put a set of alum valve covers on it yesterday. Figured I'd show a trick on installing these, if ya didn't know it already.
First, I don't use cork gaskets. Only rubber ones. They seem to not compress or deform as easily. The valve covers I used didn't have any retainers built into them, so the gasket is able to move around unrestrained between the bolt holes. Not to mention that the gasket itself is flimsy and not shaped perfectly.
What I do is I put a THIN bead of RTV on the cylinder head and place the gasket on it and finger tighten bolts against it to keep it in place while the RTV dries. Meanwhile, I cleaned up the valve covers. When the gaskets on the cylinder head are cured enough to not move, I remove the bolts holding them in place. I then put a thin bead of RTV on the valve covers and put them on the gaskets and bolt them all (finger tight) in place. Then, let it sit overnight and tighten the bolts the next day after everything is cured. Tight on a valve cover isn't very tight though. I find that a stubby ratchet is all that is needed. Voila, no leaky valve covers.
Well, there are a few more pics I can show. Here is the 302 all painted up. I put a set of alum valve covers on it yesterday. Figured I'd show a trick on installing these, if ya didn't know it already.
First, I don't use cork gaskets. Only rubber ones. They seem to not compress or deform as easily. The valve covers I used didn't have any retainers built into them, so the gasket is able to move around unrestrained between the bolt holes. Not to mention that the gasket itself is flimsy and not shaped perfectly.
What I do is I put a THIN bead of RTV on the cylinder head and place the gasket on it and finger tighten bolts against it to keep it in place while the RTV dries. Meanwhile, I cleaned up the valve covers. When the gaskets on the cylinder head are cured enough to not move, I remove the bolts holding them in place. I then put a thin bead of RTV on the valve covers and put them on the gaskets and bolt them all (finger tight) in place. Then, let it sit overnight and tighten the bolts the next day after everything is cured. Tight on a valve cover isn't very tight though. I find that a stubby ratchet is all that is needed. Voila, no leaky valve covers.