71 454 Corvette valve cover gaskets

[Grant W.]

Just wondering if anyone knows what type of Big Block valve cover gasket is used for 71 454. April car.

Was it the silver painted cork or plain cork


Would the top of the gasket tab be painted orange and the bottom edge of the gasket would be left original and unpainted.

Or the valve cover gasket is totally left unpainted,

Would the sequence of putting the valve covers on the engine, They painted the valve covers first then they added the valve cover gaskets and bolted it on....I don't think GM would waste their time in doing this. I would figure they would put on the unpainted valve cover, then the gasket on, then the reinforcement tabs then the valve cover bolts, bolt it on and spray the engine orange. Then add the carb and fittings.

The TIMJ guide has no reference to the valve cover gasket used

Thanks for your help as I am trying to get the engine done.

Grant

[Mark D.]

Re: 71 454 Corvette valve cover gaskets

Grant,

The problem with LS6 cars is that there are precious few original examples. There are some low mile cars but, I still say few original examples. With that being said, I say silver coated cork with the underneath of the gasket unpainted except what landed unintentionally.

Two suggestions...call Stanley and then call Pat Sullivan as he has a very nice low mile, original coupe.

Mark

PS-Wait till a bunch of us are in a bar after judging and bring up how LS6 Corvette motors were masked (especially around the heads) for painting, then just sit back and enjoy that conversation.

[Terry M.]

Re: 71 454 Corvette valve cover gaskets

Grant,

The problem with LS6 cars is that there are precious few original examples. There are some low mile cars but, I still say few original examples. With that being said, I say silver coated cork with the underneath of the gasket unpainted except what landed unintentionally.

Two suggestions...call Stanley and then call Pat Sullivan as he has a very nice low mile, original coupe.

Mark

PS-Wait till a bunch of us are in a bar after judging and bring up how LS6 Corvette motors were masked (especially around the heads) for painting, then just sit back and enjoy that conversation.

Mark,

Do you have LS6-itis?
Grant didn't mention LS6, but then he didn't rule it out either. It would have been much cleaner if he would have told us which 1971 454 he was asking about -- but a whole lot less fun that asking about LS6 head paint details after a few cocktails.

[Joe L.]

Re: 71 454 Corvette valve cover gaskets

Just wondering if anyone knows what type of Big Block valve cover gasket is used for 71 454. April car.

Was it the silver painted cork or plain cork


Would the top of the gasket tab be painted orange and the bottom edge of the gasket would be left original and unpainted.

Or the valve cover gasket is totally left unpainted,

Would the sequence of putting the valve covers on the engine, They painted the valve covers first then they added the valve cover gaskets and bolted it on....I don't think GM would waste their time in doing this. I would figure they would put on the unpainted valve cover, then the gasket on, then the reinforcement tabs then the valve cover bolts, bolt it on and spray the engine orange. Then add the carb and fittings.

The TIMJ guide has no reference to the valve cover gasket used

Thanks for your help as I am trying to get the engine done.

Grant

Grant------


As far as I know, the only valve cover gasket that GM ever used on a PRODUCTION Mark IV big block engine was the GM #3860315 and that gasket is "silver" coated cork.

[Grant W.]

Re: 71 454 Corvette valve cover gaskets

Hi Guys
Today my chef gave me a 1/2 ounce of home brew apple and Apricot Nectare vodka drink. It was a little shooter and I don't drink. Well I was red faced and had to sit down for a while. I needed that shot after all this political crap at work this week.

Anyways I don't have an LS6. I wish I did but not today. I have an LS5 that I have been trying to restore for the past 18 years.

I had a feeling it was the silver cork and thanks to Joe again.

But was the top of the cork ie the tabs painted orange. or not painted.

Thanks for your help as I am new to the 71 454 restoration process. Ask me anything 68 or 69 and I can give you a fast answer.

Thanks, grant

[Mark D.]

Re: 71 454 Corvette valve cover gaskets

Gosh-neds, Grant...my apologies for the major assumption. Terry is right, I must be afflicted.

[Terry M.]

Re: 71 454 Corvette valve cover gaskets

Hi Guys
Today my chef gave me a 1/2 ounce of home brew apple and Apricot Nectare vodka drink. It was a little shooter and I don't drink. Well I was red faced and had to sit down for a while. I needed that shot after all this political crap at work this week.

Anyways I don't have an LS6. I wish I did but not today. I have an LS5 that I have been trying to restore for the past 18 years.

I had a feeling it was the silver cork and thanks to Joe again.

But was the top of the cork ie the tabs painted orange. or not painted.

Thanks for your help as I am new to the 71 454 restoration process. Ask me anything 68 or 69 and I can give you a fast answer.

Thanks, grant

Grant, I am glad you don't have an LS6 -- not because I want you to be disappointed in your Corvette, but because we can answer your question rationally now that the aluminum head paint issue is off the table. BTW: Did your chef share that Nectar with Mark?

Iron head big blocks used the cork gasket with a silver coating Joe referred to. That gasket was installed as was the rocker cover and the rocker cover attaching fasteners and reinforcements BEFORE engine paint. (And BTW: As far as we know the assembly techniques for aluminum head big blocks was the same). When the iron head big block engines were painted usually (read almost always) no orange paint got on the underside of the rocker cover gasket tab. The painters had just a matter of seconds with a pressure feed gun to cover the top and sides, and some of the bottom of the engine and clutch housing. They were moving very fast and a thick coat of paint was out of the question.

[Grant W.]

Re: 71 454 Corvette valve cover gaskets

Thanks Terry for the info on assembly of rocker covers and all.

I sould send you some of this vodka drink. Although I don't drink it tasted pretty good. That is why it hit me in less than 5 mins......I was always told I was a cheap date.

Thanks, Grant

[Terry M.]

Re: 71 454 Corvette valve cover gaskets

Thanks Terry for the info on assembly of rocker covers and all.

I sould send you some of this vodka drink. Although I don't drink it tasted pretty good. That is why it hit me in less than 5 mins......I was always told I was a cheap date.

Thanks, Grant

Except when I get lead astray by that reprobate Mark D. I don't drink anymore either, so your libation would be wasted on me. Will you be in Seaside for the Regional? I would liek to meet you.

[Ron G.]

Re: 71 454 Corvette valve cover gaskets

Just to confer with you guys, the cork gaskets were silver with orange paint on top and the silver on the bottom. Original gaskets (small & big block) do not have the rubber incorporated in the cork itself, but replacements do.

[Mark D.]

Re: 71 454 Corvette valve cover gaskets

Except when I get lead astray by that reprobate Mark D.

[Rich C.]

Re: 71 454 Corvette valve cover gaskets

So how do you judge them being silver when they got painted orange, a mirror on underside? If so...wow!

'73 LS-4 454, owned 22 years!

[Terry M.]

Re: 71 454 Corvette valve cover gaskets

So how do you judge them being silver when they got painted orange, a mirror on underside? If so...wow!

'73 LS-4 454, owned 22 years!

You nailed it Rich -- mirror to look at the underside. No big wow. Easy to do. Oh and the rule of multiples applies. Look at one and believe they are all like that one. So spend your time on the one(s) that are most accessable.

[Grant W.]

Re: 71 454 Corvette valve cover gaskets

Hi Terry
I will be at Sea Side helping out the NW Chapter.
I think there will be some sort of a judges meeting around 4 or 5 pm onThursday??? I think Roy will be giving the usual synopsis of what is going on. I will be there with the red T shirt with BCNCRS on it and my name tag
Hope to meet finally meet you and talk car stuff.

Thanks, Grant

[Wayne M.]

Re: 71 454 Corvette valve cover gaskets

....I will be at Seaside OR helping out the NW Chapter.....

See you there, Grant. Will be heading out from Calgary at crack of dawn Wednesday 2nd May. Intend to arrive in time on Thursday to watch unloading and tech.

(for all) Here's a repeat view of the geometry involved in spraying a block with aluminum heads. Maybe it looks easier with a few brewskis .