So i noticed some oil on the sides of the block below the valve cover and I've been topping up the oil somewhat frequently.. Now I'm not sure if the valve cover is to blame but I've heard their pretty cheaply made so is it time for me to get an aluminium cover or can i double up the gasket or something..?

Thanks

Before you re-install it , straighten out the sheet metal where the screws go through. These get all bent up, and don;t hold things square and tight. Then install a set of long square washer type devices that go under the screw heads in a way to spread the pressure out over a longer area of the cover flange. You can find these at speed shops, and at places like Advance Auto. Pep Boys has an entire section of just valve covers, chrome air cleaners, chrome breathers, chrome valve cover hold down wing nuts, etc, and you might find them there. The aluminum cover is the best thing, but even they will leak if you don;t keep things tight. They seem to loosen with expansion and contraction of the aluminum.

Doc has talked about deepening the valleys that the oil runs down into as it rolls off the rockers. I dont; know if you could do this with the head on or not. I would be a little afraid of getting chips in places they don't belong. Good luck. You might ask Doctor Dodge what he thinks about this.

Sam

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Given that the valve cover is true and has a new gasket and isn't leaking....

Here are two other thoughts

What year head do you have?
Do you have the Hemi tubes (old head) or peanut plugs (77 and up)?
The hemi tube gaskets can leak.

Was the engine rebuilt recently?
If so, were both surfaces, the head and the block machined?
Sometimes you can get a slight leak along the lower edge if you don't have true surfaces and have not applied enough gasket sealant.
Doctor Dodge wrote about this on the Twiggy build up.

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Aggressive Ted

http://cid-32f1e50ddb40a03c.photos.live ... %20Swinger


74 Swinger, 9.5 comp 254/.435 lift cam, 904, ram air, electric fans, 2.5" HP2 & FM70 ex, 1920 Holley#56jet, 2.76 8 3/4 Sure-Grip, 26" tires, 25+MPG

Ted, Are you saying that oil can leak from the head/block mating surfaces? Through the head gasket itself? I never knew that , if it is true. I always assumed,(there is that dangerous word ) that if there was enough gap to leak, it would blow the head gasket. Should one re-torque the head everyonce in awhile?

Sam

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Is there any other shops besides clifford performance that sell aluminum slant six valve covers? Seems like a decent long term investment..

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obliquely-inclined state of mind

Offenhauser sells one... Summit Racing part number OFY-5284, $165

-Mac

carpdar,

Offenhauser also has a cast valve cover.

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Aggressive Ted

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74 Swinger, 9.5 comp 254/.435 lift cam, 904, ram air, electric fans, 2.5" HP2 & FM70 ex, 1920 Holley#56jet, 2.76 8 3/4 Sure-Grip, 26" tires, 25+MPG

Sam,

You can have correct torque and it will still weep if not sealed. Oil collects on the block on the lower side of the push rod galley. It looks like Doc used the orange hi-temp silicone along the edge. There isn't allot of mating surface on the lower side and if not trued/machined to keep a good seal, may weep overtime.

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Aggressive Ted

http://cid-32f1e50ddb40a03c.photos.live ... %20Swinger


74 Swinger, 9.5 comp 254/.435 lift cam, 904, ram air, electric fans, 2.5" HP2 & FM70 ex, 1920 Holley#56jet, 2.76 8 3/4 Sure-Grip, 26" tires, 25+MPG

I have seen a lot of SL6 "weep" oil along that joint.
I think the gasket makers like Fel-Pro also saw that and started putting a sealing "bead" along that part of the gasket.
For head gaskets that don't have that extra bead, I use some hi-temp sealer along that edge to be sure it seals.
DD