Since I mentioned this in a rant on another thread, it dawned on me that this would be a good "Tech Tip" from the past.
Lets say you are assembling your motor and anticipate needing to do some fine tuning in the future. Now, everyone knows that you will need a whole new set of gaskets, or at least the ones you will be removing to do your fine tuning. So, I propose a simple way to avoid the buying of a full set or even the one you will be needing.
Here is my solution. Place your favorite sealer on that flimsy paper gasket so that it sticks to the part you are removing, say, the valve cover. Place the gasket on the cover sealer side against the valve cover, let set a bit to insure you have enough stick'um on it to hold, now, use your favorite grease, not oil as that will just be soaked up by the paper, I use a Moly grease, the same stuff I use on front wheel bearings, and only use a thin coat. Now, place the gasket and cover in place, screw on as needed.
Now, here is the best part of this, when you go to remove that valve cover and do the final valve adjustment, the gasket comes off with the cover and to reuse it all you need do is apply a bit more grease!! Also, IF you really want to change the gasket 'cause you are "one of those kind", the gasket is stuck to the valve cover and easier removed while laying on the bench and not stuck to the engine where you HAVE to lean over the fender with the chance for a scratch in that shiny paint!
This works with all the gaskets, be they paper or cork. I use grease on both sides of the head gasket, and wipe any squirtage off the edges after the final torquing.
Alas, the only drawback is it won't work with exhaust manifold gaskets as they can only be compressed once and the heat will remove the grease and whatever else you placed on the gasket.
Lets say you are assembling your motor and anticipate needing to do some fine tuning in the future. Now, everyone knows that you will need a whole new set of gaskets, or at least the ones you will be removing to do your fine tuning. So, I propose a simple way to avoid the buying of a full set or even the one you will be needing.
Here is my solution. Place your favorite sealer on that flimsy paper gasket so that it sticks to the part you are removing, say, the valve cover. Place the gasket on the cover sealer side against the valve cover, let set a bit to insure you have enough stick'um on it to hold, now, use your favorite grease, not oil as that will just be soaked up by the paper, I use a Moly grease, the same stuff I use on front wheel bearings, and only use a thin coat. Now, place the gasket and cover in place, screw on as needed.
Now, here is the best part of this, when you go to remove that valve cover and do the final valve adjustment, the gasket comes off with the cover and to reuse it all you need do is apply a bit more grease!! Also, IF you really want to change the gasket 'cause you are "one of those kind", the gasket is stuck to the valve cover and easier removed while laying on the bench and not stuck to the engine where you HAVE to lean over the fender with the chance for a scratch in that shiny paint!
This works with all the gaskets, be they paper or cork. I use grease on both sides of the head gasket, and wipe any squirtage off the edges after the final torquing.
Alas, the only drawback is it won't work with exhaust manifold gaskets as they can only be compressed once and the heat will remove the grease and whatever else you placed on the gasket.
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