Valve Covers

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aj81spider
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Your car is a: 1974 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: Chelmsford, MA

Valve Covers

Post by aj81spider »

How tightly should the valve covers be tightened down? I had mine torqued pretty tight. A shop did some work on the car, and decided to check my shim clearances. When I drove it home there was oil all over the top of the engine and I noticed that the hold downs were only finger tight.
A.J.

1974 Fiat 124 Spider
2006 Corvette
1981 Spider 2000 (sold 2013 - never should have sold that car)
So Cal Mark

Re: Valve Covers

Post by So Cal Mark »

6 ft lbs
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aj81spider
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Your car is a: 1974 Fiat 124 Spider
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Re: Valve Covers

Post by aj81spider »

Thanks Mark,

That's not very tight - what would cause leakage? I seem to have a lot!
A.J.

1974 Fiat 124 Spider
2006 Corvette
1981 Spider 2000 (sold 2013 - never should have sold that car)
So Cal Mark

Re: Valve Covers

Post by So Cal Mark »

finger tight is not tight at all
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azruss
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Re: Valve Covers

Post by azruss »

If you over tightened the covers, they may be warped. Check them on a granite block like what a machine shop has. You may have squeezed the cork gasket out at the tight spots. I use a gasket cement to glue the gasket down on one side only. this keeps it from squeezing out of place when tightened.
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aj81spider
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Your car is a: 1974 Fiat 124 Spider
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Re: Valve Covers

Post by aj81spider »

Thanks - I'll pull them off an check flatness. Mine have a rubber gasket, though, not cork.
A.J.

1974 Fiat 124 Spider
2006 Corvette
1981 Spider 2000 (sold 2013 - never should have sold that car)
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RRoller123
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Re: Valve Covers

Post by RRoller123 »

A good cast and machined table saw top is flat enough to check them, I use my Delta Unisaw for this sort of thing.
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