Valve cover fitment issue with RPM Air gap intake

[Moparman485]

Good day all!

1973 dodge dart custom, pepped up 360, Edelbrock RPM Air Gap intake.

Still mocking up the pepped up 360 I have, and noticed that with the RPM air gap into and "mopar performance" valve covers, that the valve cover lip hits the intake runners and is nowhere close to sitting down on the head.

My initial plan was to try and mill/grind on the valve cover lip (these mopar ones have a pretty hefty lip on them), but as I started to look into this more, I saw that some have solved this with using thicker gaskets on the valve cover.

That being the case, how have y'all addressed/remedied this issue before? Im sure im not the first to bump into the problem, so didn't want to reinvent the wheel here, or damage the valve covers if thicker gaskets could have solved the problem.

Any help would be much appreciated, and links or part numbers would be even better!

Thanks in advance!

 

[QWKSLVR]

I had that issue also and just used two gaskets per side, problem solved.

 

[Moparman485]

I had that issue also and just used two gaskets per side, problem solved.

When you say two gaskets, did you literally just pancake two gaskets on each side, bolt down, and torque down?

If so, did you use Cork or Rubber? And did you put RTV between the two gaskets, as well as on the head side and cover side? Thanks!

 

[QWKSLVR]

Yes two gaskets on each side but just put rtv between them to sort of glue them together. I used cork. Might need to get longer bolts depending on what you are using.

 

[Moparman485]

Yes two gaskets on each side but just put rtv between them to sort of glue them together. I used cork. Might need to get longer bolts depending on what you are using.

gotcha, I do have a set of felpro cork 3/16th gaskets, I suppose I could mock up two of em stacked and see how that looked. Then I could look into buying a second set and "bond" then two pairs together with RTV in the interim.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Look on the Summit site for small block valve cover gaskets and get on the left side where all the filters are. They list all the thicknesses. That might help you.

 

[QWKSLVR]

I wasn't willing to grind my valve covers in case I ever wanted to sell them. They would be considered damaged and not sure what I could sell them for. For me this was a simple solution. Good luck. Bobby

 

[Moparman485]

Looks like thickest they list is .313. Two felpro cork would be "roughly" .368.

I dont ever intend to sell the valve covers, so I may mock up with the double gaskets, versus the single thicker, and see if both/either gives me clearance enough to avoid filing on the cover. if they still dont, then I may go with the single and a little filing, just to avoid the extra chance of "leaking" with two gaskets.

 

[QWKSLVR]

I did go back to steel covers and original air breather so I sold the others. I never had an issue with leaks but you never know. Worked out good for me. Bobby

 

[JDMopar]

Look up Fel Pro part # 1646. They are pre-made double stack cork gaskets with a steel shim glued between layers. If that isn't enough, check the link below for SBM valve cover spacers. I bought the Fel Pro 1646 gaskets to space my Chrome steel Direct Connection valve covers up and away from the Weiand 8007 on my 273 for my 65 Barracuda. I did not have the intake bolted down yet, so I chose to remove the material from the offending runners on the intake. Took 5 minutes with a flap disc worked great.

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[Moparman485]

Thanks gents! I think ill try and get a set of felpro 1646 and then mock it up to see how they clearance, then if need be ill shave the big lip off of the valve cover.

Thanks again!

 

[Brooks James]

Use magnum gaskets, made of thick rubber, with wire inside, reusable

 

[TXOval]

1646 gaskets are what I use…I also removed the lip in the 4 places it hit. Very easy to do with a dremel

 

[RustyRatRod]

Looks like thickest they list is .313. Two felpro cork would be "roughly" .368.

I dont ever intend to sell the valve covers, so I may mock up with the double gaskets, versus the single thicker, and see if both/either gives me clearance enough to avoid filing on the cover. if they still dont, then I may go with the single and a little filing, just to avoid the extra chance of "leaking" with two gaskets.

I'll tell you this, for what it's worth. Double gaskets work MUCH better with valve cover studs. You can stack them on the studs and the studs hold them on nicely. Valve cover stud kits are nice and very affordable. I highly recommend them if you're not using them already.

 

[missing linc]

Had the exact same problem with mine, cut the edges off the covers, seemed to be the simplest way to go for me.
I definitely agree with RRR, and using studs for double gaskets.

 

[Moparman485]

I'll tell you this, for what it's worth. Double gaskets work MUCH better with valve cover studs. You can stack them on the studs and the studs hold them on nicely. Valve cover stud kits are nice and very affordable. I highly recommend them if you're not using them already.

if my existing chrome bolts and plates dont fit, I may look into these as well.

 

[gzig5]

I have the same intake and covers. Started with doubled cork gaskets but finally got around to machining the interfering lip on the valve cover and went back to single cork gasket.

 

[Moparman485]

thats reassuring for sure. I just ordered the felpro thicker, but if I can grind the lip off of the cover, then that will make it better all around.

 

[JDMopar]

Buy some 1/4-20 threaded rod and make some studs to the length you need after you get the spacing up right. Use stainless nylock nuts, and some blue Loctite on the studs into the heads.

 

[doug 371]

Just grind the intake

 

[Killer6]

That's what I've done, machined the intake to clear, about 1/8" in further than the cover flange & to just clear w/o gasket deep.

 

[str12-340]

This is not unique to your airgap. Those damned valvecovers don't work with any intake that uses the large small block ports. my 50 year old LD340 won't work with them without doing something. The tough part about double cork gaskets the the issue of squeezing them out between the bolts. I've had better luck doubling up modern silicone gaskets with a steel shim center. These gaskets would be really hard to squeeze out with the metal shim stabilizing them. Moroso is one source.

 

[69conv]

I machined the valve covers and rtv the neoprene gasket to the underside of the valve cover, and put a thin coating of vaseoline on the other side of the gasket to aid in removal. Seals well and is removable.

 

[Oldmanmopar]

I would have the intake milled to the height of the head. The valve cover tightens at the intake runner , I have seen the covers milled off in the past and they cracked when tightened.

 

[matthon]

Old school wingnuts.