Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines Side cover sealing methods

What and how do you professionals use to seal up the push rod covers on a 292 block ? Mine leaks around the bottom edges. I believe the metal on the covers to be straight.I cut some new seals using cork, cleaned the areas using acetone, put high temp silicone all around the new seal , gently put the cover with new seal and silicone on and waited twenty hours for the silicone to dry totally to tighten it down. Yet I still have some leaks.What do you guys use that works ?

Hi newcomer,
There is a sealant you can try called Hylomar (you are probably familiar with it)that seals oil better than silicone.
Also, if you are using chrome covers you will need to rough up the sealing edges with some sand paper or other abrasive.... nothing sticks well to chrome.

Dan

Try Useing the Rubber side gaskets and not the cork.

You all use gaskets?

Never knew they made a rubber one,dang parts house.Going to have to try a set.

I've always just used a bead of silicone,never had a problem with any leaks.

i use the rubber ones from felpro. tom

I use the Fel Pro rubber gaskets too with no leaks on my 250.

I've also found that it is worth the time to check and make sure the bolt holes on the covers aren't depressed or they will bottom on their bosses before the gasket makes up snug. When I have a block stripped down to go to the machine shop I also spend some time with a large flat file and lightly go over the side cover and valve cover surfaces to knock down any high spots. I've even found side cover bolt bosses that protrude out farther than the gasket rail. Check with a straight edge and file them down to just below flush. You'd be surprised how uneven they are. Of course you don't want to be doing this on a completed engine.

With good surfaces and the Fel Pro gaskets and proper torquing of the bolts I don't have any leaks.

I too use the Felpro Rubber gaskets. I have cast aluminum Offy side covers. The are not warped but did leak the first time installed. I basically used the high heat black sealant and "Glued" them to the block. I applied sealant and gasket to the cover first, let it set overnight, then glued them to the block the next day. No leaks for the last 6 years and 18,000+ miles! I did have to snug the cover bolts every once in a while but don't over tighten or they will bottom out and leak. Let the gasket and sealant do their job.

RapRap
1940 ChoppedChevyCoupe

Well I'll give the Felpro rubber gaskets a try on the new motor.

Thats a good tip Mike about checking the surfaces. I seen a high spot on the valve cover rail that needs filing, but never thought about checking the side covers.

vince