Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Recalcitrant Valve Cover

The cork seal on my pressed steel valve cover started to leak so I had my mechanic install a new rubber replacement gasket. The leak is now even more impressive than it was before. It only leaks along one side of the cover. It's a Ford 1600 engine in a '69 4/4. Research on the internet (which can be dangerous) indicates the the steel valve covers are prone to leak.
Another alternative might be a cast aluminum cover. From what I can see there is a love-hate attitude to cast aluminum valve covers.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to deal with a misbehaving valve cover?

is it the 1600 flow engine, there are a number for companies selling parts in the uk look up burton power http://www.burtonpower.com

I had a cast alloy rocker cover on my old X Flow, which was oiltight and quite smart to look at. Gerry

Use a steel rule to make sure it's not deformed by over tightening. They are simple to correct with a brass drift and a small hammer. You can test the 'nip' when refitting with a new gasket by cutting a strip of one inch wide cellulose (something like overhead projector acetate) and trapping it between the cork gasket and the head at the suspect area, it should grip the cellulose/acetate before the screw is fully tightened. A little patience and you can sort it.

It sounds to me as if someone, certainly not you of course, has been a tad heavy handed. It's possible that the area around the holes that bolt the cover to the head are deformed and holding the gasket and/or cover away from the mating surfaces. Apologies if this is teaching you to 'suck eggs'.

It is an X flow engine. The steel rule technique looks like a good start. I can pick up an aluminum valve cover from Morgan Spares in New York state if necessary. I'll probably have it from them in a week or less. The nice thing about them is that they ship by US Post, thus saving the punishing brokerage charges that courier services levy.

No real need for alloy valve covers, except the steel one is easily bent. Start with a flat one, either new or panel beaten flat. Then use as large a washer on the screws as you can get to fit, and don't overtighten.

Use a gasket compound (blue hylomar is good) to stick the gasket to the head and don't use any on the other side. That way, the gasket lasts for ages.

Whoops - I've just remembered, the gasket has 'ears' and you stick it to the cover as the steel original has cut-outs for them. The side with no gasket compound is the head itself.

Not a bad idea to use two washers too. A big flat one on the cover, and a spring one above it. Less temptation to overtighten.

Thank you for all of the suggestions. An examination of the cover showed no signs of deformation. The only thing different with it was a switch from a cork to a rubber gasket. Hylomar did the trick and there is no longer any sign of a leak.

Brent