Valve cover gasket 440 300hp.

[martindesign]

Stupid question, I need to do valve cover gaskets on my 440s. They are the old style 1969 to be exact. Any idea if I can slip them out without pulling the manifolds? It looked like I could but I only quickly glanced at it when I noticed one was sleeping a bit.

[spdracer]

Should be able to. A 1/4" drive 7/16" swivel socket with make this job much easier.

[martindesign]

Check. Thank you. Wasn't sure if the lip would fit out between the manifold and the rockers.

[Fastjeff]

Before removing them, try gently re-tightening the bolts. The gaskets relax over time and the bolts get loose.

Jeff

[martindesign]

They're cork, over tightening cork gaskets distorts stamped covers and will make it leak worse. Im gonna replace with a better rubber gasket. Thanks though.

[Busia]

Beat them with a ball peen hammer too.--Ed

[Fastjeff]

What he means is, turn the cover over and knock the distorted areas about the bolt holes flat with a ball peen hammer.

Jeff

[martindesign]

Or beat the heads with the hammer to pop the gaskets loose.

[Busia]

Rubber hammer to get parts loose, ball peen to reverse the dimple that forms on a sheet metal valve cover. No oil pressure on these valve covers so it doesn't take much to keep the oil in. If they leak you have a very poor seal.
And the biggest hammer you have when you give up.