[Syty] Valve-Cover Gaskets...?

[Dave Goodhue]

>So lemme tell ya what I want... what I really, really want, what I
really, really, really... [Stop
> it!] wanna know from your experience or research:

>If I had each respective piston at TDC and happened to DROP A VALVE (again, no
>pressurized cylinder and assuming the old valve-stem O-ring had
rotted or tore off so that
>nothing could stop the valve from falling all the way through a badly
worn guide) INTO THE >CHAMBER, HOW FAR WOULD THE INTAKE FALL THROUGH
THE GUIDE?  Would the >tip disappear completely into the valve-guide
before the valve came to rest at the top of >the piston?

>Ditto... HOW MUCH FARTHER WOULD THE EXHAUST VALVE DROP?  (This is
strictly >theoretical since I'm only planning to replace the
'guide-boss seals on the intakes and will >likely leave the exhaust
O-rings alone.  They're easy to test for leakage fully assembled
>anyway... just a few drops of penetrating-oil on the keepers.  And,
remember, I'm in a hurry >on this job!  Still, ya never know....)

>That old VALVE-COVER GASKET THANG....

I have my motor out my truck and with the heads already removed, later
this week I will take some picture of the valve cover clips and I will
test out dropping the valve.  I think it will complete disappear, but
I am not 100% sure.

>Why not use sealer or gasket adhesive on the recessed surfaces of the
covers?  When I >spoke of my Trans Am covers and those recessed orange
gaskets, they were really >permanently installed and I never had to
worry about 'em "falling out" or even getting >loose.  It was
beautiful-- better than I used to set up my Fel-Pros or Mitchells on
my old >chrome covers for '60s engines!  I don't get that stuff about
binder clips at all... hope >you're not just trying to spook me.  Know
where I could get a PICTURE of the inside of >one of these covers?

I actually did try to use some RTV blue, but it didn't adhere (I
didn't use a ton of it though)  Maybe I didn't get enough of the oil
residue off the inside of the valve cover groove.  My TPI Corvette had
rubber gaskets and they stay perfectly fine in the valve covers.  I
actually tried 3 set of gaskets to see which ones worked in my Sy's
OEM valve covers.  My orignal OEM, the new one I had used but had 1000
miles on them and a brand new set, they were all to loose to manuever
through the motion of putting the valve covers on.