Which valve gasket?

[iScamp]

I’m looking on rockauto for a /6 valve cover gasket. Two choices: old design without spark plug tube seals. Or. Cast iron block. What are they talking about? Mine is a ‘71. I know I have a cast iron block. Just curious about the design variation.

 

[Krooser]

One might be the aluminum variant

 

[slantsixdan]

There are two—and only two—Slant-6 valve cover gasket patterns: '60-'80 (solid-lifter engines), and '81-up (hydraulic-lifter engines). The '61-'63 aluminum block did not take a different valve cover gasket. The '75-'80 heads without spark plug tubes use the same valve cover gasket as the '60-'74 heads with spark plug tubes.

 

[iScamp]

Thanks!

 

[krazykuda]

I’m looking on rockauto for a /6 valve cover gasket. Two choices: old design without spark plug tube seals. Or. Cast iron block. What are they talking about? Mine is a ‘71. I know I have a cast iron block. Just curious about the design variation.

I prefer the rubber (neoprene) valve cover gasket... It's reusable... It should be the one listed for engines with the solid lifters...