AFR Heads & Oil Leaks - Remedy?

[bradvette]

Hi everyone,

Using the correct Fel-Pro valve cover gaskets, OE valve covers. Experiencing oil leaks at rear corners (opposite side of baffle) of both valve covers. Looking up from underneath, the gaskets are not sealing all the way to the rear edges, you can't see the blue gasket material at the rear edges like you should, its metal to metal which explains the leaking.

Tried to effectively shorten the bolts by using washers, these are going in extremely tight (ie, already bottoming out), scared to death the bolt threads in my expensive AFR heads will be trashed if the botls are shortened any more. I called both AFR and TPIS, they both told me the same thing regarding the shortening of the bolts. They said there's no need for aftermarket valve covers (I don't want them anyway).

Now it appears I'm screwed. What now will solve the oil leak problem?

I have a '90 L98, AFR/TPIS 187cc heads w/54cc chambers, centerbolt.

 

[Hrtbeat1]

The FelPro gaskets with the blue gasket seal imbedded are great gaskets ... if they do their job ... which yours aren't. Have you tried the old fashioned cork gaskets ... or even the plain rubber ones. On center bolt valve covers sometimes the groove where the gasket sits just isn't big enough or maybe too big and its not compressing uniformly, if that makes any sense.

OK it was a thought.:L

 

[Moonunit 451]

Try using the yellow 3M adhesive on the covers and stick the gaskets to them. I had troubles with my AFR's initially with aftermarket covers but eventually got them to stop leaking. You have to get them to stick to the covers any way you can. Black, yellow, whatever. Lot's of people have this trouble, but don't warp your covers.

I actually have a set of real thick cork gaskets from a perimeter bolt cover that I bought on a recomendation from a well experienced builder who said they work flawlessly everytime, never had a leak on any rebuild. Never used them though, as I got mine to stop leaking. I think you gotta stretch the blue Felpro's just a bit. Mine finally worked after multiple tries.

BTW, I'm not using any adhesive or sealer, but I've seen it slobbered and work well.