Cork or rubber?

[DaveEFI]

I fitted new heads a couple of years ago, and naturally new gaskets. Used rubber ones for the rocker covers - with the steel inserts for the screws. Think they came from Rimmer.

One of them is leaking badly. The screws are still tight. Now cork gaskets didn't last forever, but definitely longer than this one has.

The engine is a bit worn and has some blowby - but still goes very well indeed and is quiet, so I'd like to put off the inevitable re-build for as long as possible.

[ChrisJC]

I've always found the rubber ones better than the cork ones, although they can be quite hard to fit correctly.

Chris.

[mgbv8]

I fitted new heads a couple of years ago, and naturally new gaskets. Used rubber ones for the rocker covers - with the steel inserts for the screws. Think they came from Rimmer.

One of them is leaking badly. The screws are still tight. Now cork gaskets didn't last forever, but definitely longer than this one has.

The engine is a bit worn and has some blowby - but still goes very well indeed and is quiet, so I'd like to put off the inevitable re-build for as long as possible.

I used one set of cork gaskets from 2006 to 2014. As you know my engines came apart almost monthly while I was racing. The trick is to make sure the rocker cover mating face is oil free and dry. Also make sure you give the cork gaskets a clean with thinners etc to make sure they are clean and dry. Then apply a thin layer of Evo Stick to the rocker cover mating face as well as one side of the gasket. Make sure that you apply enough Evo Stick to cover all of the mating faces.
Then set the cork gaskets in place on the rocker covers and set the rocker covers down on a flat surface and stick a weight on top. I normally use a couple of bricks. Leave the gaskets to set for 24 hours in the house.

This will see the gaskets firmly bonded to the rocker covers so they wont move when tightened. Then make sure that the mating face on the head is oil free.

This is where you have a few options!!

You can fit the rocker covers dry OR fit the rocker covers with Blue Hylomar smeared on the gaskets OR use an RTV sealant on the gaskets.

The idea is to have the gaskets stuck like poo to a blanket on the rocker covers but also to have a breakable seal between gaskets and heads

Perry

[DaveEFI]

I did do that - glue the cork gaskets to the cover. And that worked well.

If using rubber, do you glue that too?

I just assumed the change was made to rubber because it was better.

[mgbv8]

I tried rubber once and didnt like it.

So Cork rules for me

[SimpleSimon]

Wouldn't use anything but rubber ones but I tend to stud the top 2 fasteners in the head purely because when removing the RC to find that one of those spacers fell out the gasket and into the valley area would he a PIA

[DaveEFI]

Thanks guys. Some prefer cork to rubber. Some prefer rubber to cork.

[r2d2hp]

I tried rubber and did not like the metal spacers (that can fallout). Spoke to Perry and have followed his instructions and never had an issue since with cork. What's to be next time I use my car they leak

[bigaldart]

Like Pel we have the rocker covers off very frequently. We use cork gaskets and the same method of securing them, never a problem. When we melted pistons the valley gasket failed but the rocker cover seal remained intact.

Cork for me everytime.

Alan

[Blown v8]

Another vote for the cork ones