Das Beast: My E30 track / street build

[dvallis]

Hmm. Last valve cover was powder coated. It leaked. You think the heat warps them?

[Digitalwave]

My VC has been powdercoated twice, I wouldn't doubt that it's warped too.

[digger]

rtv the plugs, non hardening permatex tack stuff/ aviation cement the rest for insurance

[dvallis]

We tried gooping the gasket with Permatex Ultra Grey and it leaked like a sieve. Admittedly our fault because we left it to dry too long. This time we used a gasket with the red line (not OEM), no RTV on the gasket and a skim of RTV around the rubber rocker shaft plugs before inserting them. Very slight leak at the plugs but I'll live with that.

[ForcedFirebird]

The red sealant is silicone/Marston (Marston comes in the OEM HG kits). The OEM gasket has the cross hatch patterns and no silicone. I usually take a dime sized ball of "right Stuff" and smear it evenly around the whole gasket, both sides. Never really had issues with the rocker plugs, honestly - they have a nice lip that sits inside the head, and against the shafts. The two major things I have seen over the years is warped covers and rocker shaft retainers holding the cover open slightly.

Warping is far more common. Easy remedy is to glue some sand paper sheets to a piece of glass/granite, or even a hard wood top checked with a flat edge. Rub the cover until you sanding marks all the way around. BOOM, sealed cover. EDIT: Powder coated covers are often warped if taken over 375°f, many colors require 375-400f°

For many years I hear that m20's are just inherently "leaky", but mine have been staying dry. Now if I can get the stupid g260 to stop spitting, then the race cars will come home clean.

[Digitalwave]

You're talking about the rocker shaft plugs? Did you goop the rest of the gasket at all?

Which one is oem type, the rubber one with the texture? I seem to have more luck with the stiff paper ones that have the red bead of sealant running through the center.

[dvallis]

The key was slight SLIGHT skim of goop around the plugs before inserting. Surgically clean head and VC with Scotch brite. OEM gasket. Then very even torque sequence. All finger tight, all 2, all 4, all 8 ft-lbs. Bone dry now.

[Digitalwave]

I can never seem to get my VC to stop leaking either, with any of the gasket types. Haven't tried goop.

[dvallis]

Fired it up. No leaks

[Elysian]

Was nice meeting you, car looks awesome

[dvallis]

Back in business, thanks to Elysian.

Stock gasket, slight goop on plugs, carefully torqued to 8 ft-lbs in stages of finger tight, 2 ft-lb, 4 ft-lb, 8 ft-lb all around. Waiting for RTV to seal on the turbo oil pressure regulator return fitting. Seal looks good all the way around. We'll start it tomorrow afternoon.

[ForcedFirebird]

Check the little locating tab on the rocker shafts isn't protruding too much out of the head. The VC has a little "bridge" there that holds the tab down. If that tab is crooked, or raised, then it interferes with the VC sealing. The cover needs very little torque on the nuts to seal. I rub a ~1/32" layer of goop on there too (Right Stuff).

[dvallis]

Wait XX76 is your cell! Too funny! I thought it was Terry. See you tomorrow man! :-)

[dvallis]

Thanks man. Terry Sayther saved my ass, again. He's bringing over one tomorrow. I owe him a bottle of Scotch.

Digger is resurrecting the CAD file to laser cut vc gaskets. I'll experiment with rubber types. When I find the right recipe will sell to you guys at cost.

[Elysian]

I might have one if you need one in a pinch. Sent you a text.