Valve cover leak and issues

[nsmall]

http://www.manciniracing.com/suvaco.html

Those are my valve cover gaskets and I have Mopar aftermarket valve covers.  I used no goop on the gasket as I was told from the performance gasket company I wouldn't have to use goop.

My problem is that the ARP bolts continue to come lose every time I drive the car and I have a Loctite washers on each bolt.

I don't want to have to tighten the bolts every time I drive the car as it starting to leak down the side of the rear of the block.

Does anyone have any recommendations?  Would locktite goop help keep the bolts secure?

  Does anyone know the pounds per square inch I should use on the bolts? I don't have a wrench but I can borrow one from someone.

Thanks in advance.

[HP_Cuda]

Are you just hand tightening them or are you torquing them down?

[nsmall]

Just tightening them until snug.  I'm assuming I need to get a torque wrench?  Thanks

[Burdar]

I don't remember...are you running the cast aluminum valve covers?  If so, have you checked to see if they are hitting the intake manifold runners?  That's a common problem with those valve covers.  The stock stamped steel covers are notched around the intake runners.  The cast aluminum covers aren't notched.  You need to clearance the valve covers and/or run double gaskets to clear the intake.  That will cause a big leak and could break your valve covers too.

[Burdar]

I've got ARP intake manifold bolts and they seem to be REALLY hard.  You can feel the stock fasteners "stretch" as you tighten them to the proper torque.  The ARPs don't do that.  I'm wondering if I'll have intake bolts backing off.  They just didn't feel normal to me.  I wonder if those bolts are part of your issue?

[nsmall]

@Burdar I have the valve covers notched so there is no clearance issues on the intake.  They come loose every time I cruise around and I would like to come up with a long term solution.

Thanks

[Chryco Psycho]

Cast covers on Factory iron heads correct ?

[734406PK]

It may seem as though the bolts are loosening on each drive but usually it's the heat of the running engine plus the force of the bolts compressing the cover gaskets. Eventually the gasket should finally compress and "take a set".  Some flat washers or reinforcement plates under the bolts should help by reducing the deformation of the stamped rocker covers and seal the leakage. What type of rocker cover gaskets do you have? Cork, Rubber etc?

[Chryco Psycho]

If it is what I think it is you have to be very careful tightening the bolts , as the heads are not flat & you can crack the cover very easily , yes the gasket could be compressing as it is new so even locktite may not help as the gasket compresses , you also have different expansion rates , alum expands more & faster than iron will so they are changing shape differently .

[734406PK]

 

[nsmall]

yes iron heads.  Unsure of what rocker gasket I have, but I have http://www.manciniracing.com/suvaco.html for the gasket under the valve cover.

As for the valve cover they are mopar polished aluminum covers http://www.manciniracing.com/moppolcasal.html

1.  So should I run a larger washer under the head of my ARP bolts vs the little lock tight washer I have on now?

Should I try different bolts? 

Anyone know of the torque number I should use when tightening the valve cover bolts?

Thanks,

[734406PK]

yes iron heads.  Unsure of what rocker gasket I have, but I have http://www.manciniracing.com/suvaco.html for the gasket under the valve cover.

As for the valve cover they are mopar polished aluminum covers http://www.manciniracing.com/moppolcasal.html

1.  So should I run a larger washer under the head of my ARP bolts vs the little lock tight washer I have on now?

Should I try different bolts? 

Anyone know of the torque number I should use when tightening the valve cover bolts?

Thanks,

Try washers with a O.D. a little larger than the flanged head ARP bolts you have. The Mancini valve cover gaskets should work with the cast MOPAR covers.

As for the bolt torque, the general spec (cast iron) for a 1/4x20 SAE grade 5 bolt is 76 inlbs, and 108 inlbs for SAE grade 8. 

[Burdar]

If that doesn't work, try some standard hardware store bolts...just for a test.

[734406PK]

I was getting some small metric bolts today from my local hardware store and I saw 1/4" "wave washers". They look like a flat washer but wavy like a potato chip. When tightened under a bolt, they act as a spring keeping the bolt torqued and constant pressure on the valve cover. They may be worth a try also. The wave washers won't damage the cast aluminum covers like standard split lock washers will. 

[nsmall]

@734406PK Thanks for your suggestions.  Will this work?

https://m.ebay.com/itm/25-1-4-Stainless-Steel-Wave-Curved-Washers-A2-or-18-8-Stainless-D137A/171779367707?hash=item27fed9231b:g:zRgAAOSwL7VWtTeP:sc:USPSFirstClass!93536!US!-1