Valve cover leak

[azcycle]

Question: Do the R and L face up (sky) or down (pavement)?  Does it matter?

[Mike V]

Up

[azcycle]

   Well great.  The one that isn't leaking is facing the wrong way.  

[Mike V]

Graeme,
Don't know if you want to go through the trouble - but you may want to double-nut the studs in the cover, mark them for depth, remove them and hand mill the cover gasket surface on a flat piece of glass. After a few figure-8's you should be able to determine by looking at the wear marks if the cover is warped. Idealy the cover gasket shouldn't need any sealer.  Might be a good time to clean the head surface carefully with a flat block and scotchbrite.

PIA...isn't it?

[azcycle]

I was thinking the same thing, Mike.  The paint on the covers is in bad shape, flaking, cracking, etc so I might just wait a bit and do it all at once.

I assume by double-nutting you place two nuts down the stud, and attempt to unscrew the stud by turning the lower bolt?

[montmil]

...I assume by double-nutting you place two nuts down the stud, and attempt to unscrew the stud by turning the lower bolt?

That's right. Not necessary to run the nuts all the way down the threaded stud; just jam the two nuts together, sometimes called double-nutting, then unscrew the stud using the lower nut. Lefty Loosey...  Perhaps a drop of LockTite Red upon reinstallation of the stud to prevent it from spinning when you next attempt to remove the now leak-free rocker cover.

Monte