Cam cover

[JoeDQ1]

Well, finally getting around to fixing my cracked cam cover. I have new covers and gaskets, anything special I should do? Are you supposed to wet the gasket with oil before tightening down? or some type of gasket sealer? I can't find a torque speck in the manual, obviously someone torqued the last one to the point of cracking. Glad I finally did this, I would have hated to have whatever this stuff is they used to patch start to break off and run through the engine.

[azruss]

many opinions on this subject. I have the best luck applying gasket adhesive to bottom side only. this way, the cam covers can be pulled without hurting the gasket, but the gasket stays in place when bolting the cover down. I tighten mine down just enough to squeeze the gasket a little. If i was to guess, i would say 10 ft lbs.

[So Cal Mark]

I use 6 ftlbs on the cam covers

[JoeDQ1]

OK thanks

[sptcoupe]

Just an observation about the repair. I don't know what material you ahve used on the inside of the cam cover, but if it deteriorates, it will end up in your sump. If it JB Weld or something similar, it will be like a fairly coarse sand that will trash your bearing/crank pretty quickly.

Way better to find another cover - they are not scarce, and not worry about it. They cost a lot less than a new bottom end.

BTW, I have trashed an engine using JB Weld on what seemed a simple repair on an intake manifold. It doesn't hold up in oil or gas, and it really dsoes look like a coarse grit when it comes apart.Great stuff, but I would never use it on an internal part of the engine where it could get to the rings or bearings.

[RRoller123]

That is an excellent observation, thanks for sharing.

[JoeDQ1]

No no no. That is what I found when I went to repair (replace) the cracked cam cover with a new one. I am guessing it was some sort of epoxy. Whoever did do the repair, it was a very bad idea because with a worstening leak it was apready begining to fail. A future owner tightening the cover could have brok it free an made a real mess. I posted it to show future visitors that you never know what half baked repair someone may have come up with and it is worth a look to find out and this is not the way to fix it no matter what you think JB weld is capable of..... A new cover is not that expensive.