Proper valve cover installation questions

[Jack_James]

Hello. I ordered the Ranger gasket from Ford to hopefully solve my leak that's happening around the cam arch.

I read that there's something to modify or to be aware in regards to that area sealing properly. Could anyone shed some light on that for me?

Also what sealants are you using? Copper? The Right Stuff?

Does anyone recommend the oem torque values for the valve cover hardware or should it be set at something different?

I'm going to take a straight edge to the valve cover once it's off as well in case it's not straight.

Any other tips or advice would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

- Jack

[andyofcolumbusmerkur]

See if you can get the black rubber motorcraft version from Mike or Jeff or Rapido. I used 150-400 grit wet sanding paper to polish the valve cover mating surface. It's kinda hard to get the gasket to sit real nice, so I shine a light down in behind the pulley. After using a couple dog food bags to weigh it down, with bolts out, it started to go back to it's correct shape. It took maybe three days, I kept looking behind the pulley, removing valve cover, adjusting and checking the position until I was happy with it. I also go with the MC2 torque spec range.

[my8950]

I'd make sure its flat, use black RTV, install it and let the RTV set up for a bit, then torque it.

[Jack_James]

See if you can get the black rubber motorcraft version from Mike or Jeff or Rapido. I used 150-400 grit wet sanding paper to polish the valve cover mating surface. It's kinda hard to get the gasket to sit real nice, so I shine a light down in behind the pulley. After using a couple dog food bags to weigh it down, with bolts out, it started to go back to it's correct shape. It took maybe three days, I kept looking behind the pulley, removing valve cover, adjusting and checking the position until I was happy with it. I also go with the MC2 torque spec range.

I have the Ranger gasket at Ford. I'm on my way to pick it up now. Thanks tho. I don't understand what you were trying to accomplish with the dog food bags. Are the MC2 torque specs different than the FSM?

[Jack_James]

I'd make sure its flat, use black RTV, install it and let the RTV set up for a bit, then torque it.

Awesome thanks. Gonna run by Mazda and see if my tech has any silicone he's willing to donate to the cause lol. If not I'll just get a tube from them since I get a discount.

[Jack_James]

Hell ya this is gonna be a great gasket. Got some black rtv from my friend and gonna get this done hopefully Thursday.

[andyofcolumbusmerkur]

The bags of dog food sitting on top pressed it down. So I didn't have to use the bolts. I kept messing with it until it was right. If I would have just put it in real fast it would leak behind the cam pulley. When I used a light to look down behind the pulley I could see it wasn't aligned perfect. There are two ridges that help it seal, and the front most ridge wasn't under the valve cover. I didn't use any rtv.

[andyofcolumbusmerkur]

MC2 just says 8lbs. Some of their torque specs seem rounded up, nothing really dramatic.

[DPDISXR4Ti]

No sealant needed or desired with the Ford "F5" gasket. Ignore the FSM. This gasket didn't exist back then.

I've had my valve cover off and on many times. Same gasket. No sealant. No leaks.

[Ed Lijewski]

Agree with Batman; OP is not doing something correctly in installing it. Fitment at/over the arch requires care while lowering the valve cover, but nothing more.

YMMV

[andyofcolumbusmerkur]

No matter how carefully I tried to align it, things just were not right. I think the gasket got sort of a crease in it from storage. Also the underside of the valve cover was really rough, not sure what was up with that. When I bolted it down the first time the bolts scratched the new high temp paint. So I got some small stainless steel washers for the bolts.

[Jack_James]

WOOO! I figured it out. Straight edge won't work IF THERE'S DOWELS IN THE VALVE COVER. The previous owner before my friend got the car must have cranked on the gasket he used. Steel dowels vs aluminum valve cover...we know the winner. Straight edge is showing it is pretty damm close to flat. It rocks a little at the back if you push the front of the cover down...but if you push the back of it down the front doesn't move....so ALMOST Straight. Just going to make sure my final 8ftlbs torque is done from the rear forward and it'll be great.

No wonder the other rubber one wouldn't work..."Oh hey there's dowels in the valve cover so this gasket won't work" not thinking that the valve cover itself was supposed to be dowel-less and flat. HAH!

[Jack_James]

The kicker is that all the dowels were stuck in the valve cover expect the rear ones! So it was never ever able to sit flat lol.

[Jack_James]

Just letting the valve cover air dry then its going in with the Ford gasket....smoosh it flat then 60 minutes later torque it down

[Jack_James]

All torqued to 8ftlbs in proper sequence. Boooya. Just need to grab a spare plenum gasket and I'll have it out driving in 24hrs. Also buffed the passengers fender and door while I waited for the rtv to cure.