Rocker cover gaskets

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

Don't know about Canada but here in the UK we can get hold of nitrile impregnated cork gasket material.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283543928030

Probably enough there to do 6-7 gaskets, need a set of wad punches, a craft knife to cut out the inside and you're all set to make some gaskets that will be resilient, oil-proof and will hold the oil inside the engine a long time.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283499028618
Wad punches ^^^^^

Used that stuff on my other beast to make gaskets that were NLA and originally a sort of large "O" ring but not circular in profile and not available from any other source. Still leak free after about 7 years

Do you think that material would work for the cam cover on a B21 Dave? The issue might be those two right angle (almost) bends where it turns over the camshaft seal at the end.

Alan

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Othen

Do you think that material would work for the cam cover on a B21 Dave? The issue might be those two right angle (almost) bends where it turns over the camshaft seal at the end.

Alan

It should do Alan, if memory serves you still have the spare cylinder head from your HGF repair? You could use that in conjunction with the spare cam cover to help develop the pattern (a large piece of card might be useful for creating the pattern) but it's certainly flexible stuff.

I once tied an offcut in a knot to see how flexible it was then unraveled it and it flattened out perfectly.

If the end journals on the cam are different sizes, you may end up with a rhomboid pattern but if it works then it's all good!

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

It should do Alan, if memory serves you still have the spare cylinder head from your HGF repair? You could use that in conjunction with the spare cam cover to help develop the pattern (a large piece of card might be useful for creating the pattern) but it's certainly flexible stuff.

I once tied an offcut in a knot to see how flexible it was then unraveled it and it flattened out perfectly.

If the end journals on the cam are different sizes, you may end up with a rhomboid pattern but if it works then it's all good!

I keep a spare cam cover gasket Dave, they seem a bit thin and flimsy; you may recall I had an issue when I first bought the RB. I could use the spare one as a pattern and trace round it - then cut/punch out the gasket and check it on my spare cylinder head.

The current gasket has sealed up properly, but I've sometimes thought I'd like to have something a little thicker. perhaps when the spare cam cover arrived from Luke and I get it painted and polished up ready to fit I'll try this material.

PS. I bought a set of the punches - from a different seller for about £3. The number of times I've bodged a hole in a gasket with a craft knife and a drill bit!

[Army]

In my experience despite the obvious improvements in modern gasket sealing "technology" the old stuff can work just as well.

For rocker cover gaskets most engine types (types of many manufacturers) suffer from good folks who over tighten the cover and change the shape of said cover.

Most DIY mechanics don't have a nice gucci surface plate (or table) but nearly everyone on the planet can find some modern glass which can help give a clue to the presence of any cover distortion.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Othen

PS. I bought a set of the punches - from a different seller for about £3. The number of times I've bodged a hole in a gasket with a craft knife and a drill bit!

I think there are only 5 punches in that £3 odd set Alan, there are 6 in the set i linked to and while you won't always use the extra size, it's handy to have as Sods Law dictates that the one size you haven't got is the size you need.

Using a spare gasket as a pattern is always easier.

[c1800]

Originally Posted by CLIVERALLY

Does anyone know of a UK based firm that do a gasket that is nitrile or similar material ?

Clive, suggest a check with someone like Simon at Brookhouse Volvo. Possibly one of his suppliers has them and he can bring it in with one of his regular shipments, avoiding the one off shipping charges etc.