What are some good valve cover gaskets to use? Are there any that are steel reinforce to prevent leaks?
Felpro makes a steel re enforced valve cover gasket, and it will work fine with stock heads. However, it does not work with some of the aftermarket heads, because the lip on the head is not wide enough. They were about $26 for each valve cover last time I got them, so they are very expensive. However, they are completely reusable and last forever. If you don't want to spend that kind of cash, get the rubber Felpro ones. Felpro does not make a rubber gasket specifically for our cars, because it has a cast valve cover. When you go to the parts store, just get a Felpro rubber gasket for like an 85 Ford Crown Vic with a 302. I think the number is VS13264R, but don't quote me. The only difference is that the gasket has these little nubbies on it, that fit into the slots on a stamped valve cover. You can twist the nubbies off with your fingers, or cut them with a pair of scissors and it will fit on your car just fine. Don't get cork gaskets. Kurt
Do you know which aftermarket heads will not work with these gaskets? on my 95, I have edlebrock heads.
I'm pretty sure you can use the metal re-enforced ones with Edelbrock heads. I know the guys at Steeda would know for sure, since they frequently use Edelbrock heads and the Felpro re enforced gaskets. I know you can use them on Windsor Jr./Sr. heads, and all Ford Iron heads. I know they don't work on Canfield's and Avengers. Kurt
Ford Racing M-6584-A50 - Ford Racing Valve Cover Gaskets - Overview - SummitRacing.com these are basically the OE gaskets. If you still have the stock ones just reuse them if not buy these and they will be reusable. I like these because they are cheap, reusable, and don't leak like the cork ones! Like mentioned above some of the stamped steel valve covers have lips that cause them to not fit with these. I had stamped steel ones that didn't work with these but after getting tired of the other kinds of gaskets leaking, I took a hammer to them so i could use these gaskets.
No, and as far as I can tell, they have discontinued them. Get the ones listed from Summit above. Those are the best gaskets. However, they are not the OEM gaskets. Kurt
I used some plain jane non-reinforced rubber gaskets. The key is to torque them down in sequence a little at a time, so they don't leak.
What did you have on yours? Mine and everyone I know had those listed above from the factory...if not the exact same VERY VERY close. All of ours were 100% OEM factory pieces.
The factory gaskets were just rubber in my car, and every car I've ever worked on. Those gaskets are the nice metal reinforced ones. Kurt
Hmm...every 5.0 mustang I have ever worked on has had the the metal core ones from the factory. Every one was either bought new or was a bone stock example when purchased except for 1 and it had a stock motor. Everyone I have ever met has had the steel core ones factory not the rubber ones. I would bet someone replaced the gaskets with the rubber ones at some point and the rubber ones were not the factory pieces.
