boy am i a pro at this i used the weather stripping stuff boy what a mess not to mention that it sucks use you silicon that cam with the valve cover.. put a bead on both sides do make sure you put a nice beads all the way around let it get tackey a couple of minutes then lay the gasket on it do the same thing let it get tackey then lay the valve cover on it DO NOT TIGHTEM IT DOWN LET IT SIT OVERNIGHT then the next day torque it down to spec that will take care of the problem good luck took me a couple of times to get it but you will do it probably once evey couple of years... I bouhgt the expensive valve cover that you haft to tap out from 4wd hardware and still had to do the same thing welcom to the life of the leaking motor.... I just wish mine would stop squeaking...

 

yes put a beed around the head.. and then lay the gasket down.. then another on top of that.. let it get tacky.. then put the cover on.. you can tighten it down.. but you dont want to run the motor for a day.. let that set up real good.. over night, then you can run the motor.. should work fine.. had a 4wdh one for a few years.. never leaked....

survival is instinct, but living takes guts

 

yes put a beed around the head.. and then lay the gasket down.. then another on top of that.. let it get tacky.. then put the cover on.. you can tighten it down.. but you dont want to run the motor for a day.. let that set up real good.. over night, then you can run the motor.. should work fine.. had a 4wdh one for a few years.. never leaked.... i like using the rtv so when and if you have to take the gasket off, it does so much easier.. without it.. the gasket will bake onto the head or cover.. and you will be cursing for hours trying to get it off..

survival is instinct, but living takes guts

 

THat's kinda what I thought, never heard a mechanic say not to use silicone!

Carl, Tampa, FL, 74 CJ-5
If a Jeep can't take you there, Think twice about going..

 

I put a Clifford aluminum cover ($110 not 160) on my 258 three years ago following their instructions. The cover comes with a cork gasket and 3m adhesive. It hasn't leaked a bit in 3 years!
I did not use silicon, and according to many mechanics I talked to, silicon should NOT be used on cork.

Also, be careful if you intend to use synthetic oil. A freind of mine did and the oil leaked through the cork gasket like it was running through a screen door.

 

Just as an FYI for anyone looking to get the 4WDH valve cover, I called and told the sales person that I could get the same cover from Quadratec for 99.00, He proptly told me it was not the same and theirs was better. "Of course", I said but, "can you match the price?". Well they did match the price and also threw in the new rocker arm bridges. So if you need this valve cover tell them to match thier competion.

http://www.geocities.com/austnjpr/

 

Oof! And I put my order into Rosser on Sat. Wish I would have known about that deal! I would have ordered it instead. Oh well, at least this new cover is metal and not plastic. The price is OK I guess. I opened up JC Whitney the other day and they have metal valve covers for 258's for $30 a pop. Wonder what the difference is.

If I can stop this leak I won't have any, anywhere on the motor. It's only leaking from the valve cover! I'm so happy to get my garage clean again!

Carl, Tampa, FL, 74 CJ-5
If a Jeep can't take you there, Think twice about going..

 

AustnJPR, those two valve covers may in fact be different. I know for a fact that the baffle system is different between the Clifford and the
4WDH. I haven't seen the inside of the Quadratec cover yet.

Gary

 

Indeed I have been told the 4WDH cover is better, but my thought was more along the line of the good ol' free market place here in the US.........Just tell that to Microsoft......

http://www.geocities.com/austnjpr/

 

Def beware of synthetic oil. I put synthetic into mine and it took about 2 months for the cork to saturate and leak like crazy.

Sean

 

Guys,check the year fit on the JC Whitney metal cover,older heads were different than newer ones,covers arent interchangeable.i think
80 back same and 81 up (correct me if i am wrong) even at that there are still differences,my 82 had drilled and untapped side holes
and my 86 has them drilled and tapped as well.The 82 cover i have has plastic tits that fit in the untapped holes and the 86 has bolt
holes in the cover.I hate to see someone order one and it not fit their year engine