Which 455 Valve Cover Gasket is Best? Material, Thickness?

Discussion in 'Buick FAQ' started by ChesapeakeChris, Jan 18, 2023.

  1. 12lives

    12lives Control the controllable, let the rest go

    No slathering! I'm switching from cork to what JW mentioned above. What I have heard from many is to glue the cork gasket to the VC with 3M weatherstrip yellow glue (like briz said) and smear a thin coat of silicone (right stuff etc) on the side towards the head. And make sure the VC is flat.
     
    Last edited: Jan 22, 2023
    FLGS400 likes this.
  2. ChesapeakeChris

    ChesapeakeChris Well-Known Member

    Tighten her down, around 10 ft lbs?
     
  3. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    4 ft. lbs. is the factory spec.
     
    Briz likes this.
  4. ChesapeakeChris

    ChesapeakeChris Well-Known Member

    Thank you...
     
  5. Briz

    Briz Founders Club Member

    And 4ft lbs. is way more than you think it is using a 1/4" digital wrench
     
    FLGS400 and john.schaefer77 like this.
  6. 12lives

    12lives Control the controllable, let the rest go

    I drop to inch lbs at that point - 48 in lbs
     
    john.schaefer77 and 73 Stage-1 like this.
  7. CJay

    CJay Supercar owner Staff Member

    In 30+ years of wrenching, I have never put a torque wrench on a valve cover bolt. Has anyone? Like ever?
     
  8. CJay

    CJay Supercar owner Staff Member

    The gaskets are only as good as the straightness of your steel covers. I never put them on dry. Make sure the rails are flat. A skim coat of ultra black on both sides, choke up on a 1/4" ratchet and snug them.
     
    sean Buick 76 likes this.
  9. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    I use Allen bolts and just tight by hand with the Allen key to avoid over tightening. Way back when I used the flimsy stamped valve covers I found that using “the right stuff” light skim on each side of a cork gasket was the best. Once I went to the cast covers I never went back! Leak free, no warping!
     
    FLGS400 likes this.
  10. Fox's Den

    Fox's Den 355Xrs

    Put your fingers at the head of the ratchet and when it is snug you are good do in sequence and retighten a smidge after warm up cool down I used the cork on TA covers with the 3m weatherstrip only on cover side They stayed there a very long time
     
    FLGS400 likes this.
  11. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Me either. Just intake, head, rocker pedestal, and some other bolts I am probably forgetting.:)
     
  12. Briz

    Briz Founders Club Member

    Last few builds I actually used the 1/4" digital Tq wrench on the oil pan and valve cover bolts just for chits n giggles. So far no leaks!
     
    Max Damage likes this.
  13. CJay

    CJay Supercar owner Staff Member


    Oooh....digital torque wrench. I need one of those!
     
  14. Max Damage

    Max Damage I'm working on it!

    I have never thought to use a torque wrench on valve covers, but this discussion makes me wonder how out of spec my gut is...
     
  15. CJay

    CJay Supercar owner Staff Member

    It's all in the wrist!
     
    Fox's Den likes this.
  16. BUICKRAT

    BUICKRAT Got any treats?

    Yup, and squish that gasket right out
     
  17. Fox's Den

    Fox's Den 355Xrs

    The 1/4 tq wrench and a inch lb. one is what you would need to get down low on the tq. A 3/8 tq wrench will break the bolt before you feel the "click" or crack of the bolt. lol
    What I said earlier works the best especially on the carb.
     

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