Which Gaskets?

[R8rPhan]

About to order gaskets for the oil pan and valve covers..

Mainly I will likely be pulling the timing chain cover and replacing the seal/gaskets, possibly replacing the timing chain and gears...

I can order the cork gaskets, with separate front and back rubber crank gaskets, or they have these one piece rubber gaskets where everything is all in one (which means pulling the oil pan)...

Also there are cork vs rubber valve cover gaskets...

Which are better/easier/more reliable?

And to which surface should I be using sealer, block/heads or sheet metal pan/valve covers?

Thanks,
Mark

 

[R8rPhan]

Also, I'm wondering that if I change out the timing chain/cover, do I really even need to change the oil pan gasket and rear seal? I am kinda operating on the assumption that all three gaskets operate as a system...

Or can the TC cover be removed, and just the front crank bearing cap gasket be replaced?

The only time I've installed a pan gasket set is when doing a complete rebuild, so all of that stuff was replaced/installed at once.... I 'might' have replaced a SBC pan gasket once on my old chevy 4x4, but it's been so long I don't even remotely remember what the process was...

 

[73c20jim]

I assume a 327? Timing cover can be pryed out lowering the oil pan a bit. Cut off edges of cover to ease installation. Haven't done one since 1970, so that's all I got.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Go with the blue silicon gaskets, spendy to start with but you won’t regret it. Cork gaskets are crap. I went with the fel pro kit then got the blue silicone oil pan and valve cover gaskets.

If you’re trying to get by, then yes you can wiggle the timing cover without pulling the oil pan, but on the other hand if you’re using any sealer or anything you’re gonna have issues going back together, there’s a good chance you’ll mess it up a few times lol.

Save yourself some headache and take the oil pan off and do it right and all the way. You’ll probably have leaks if you try to just pull it out of there, I’m sure some guys have had luck but I personally don’t think it’s worth it.

As for the sealer, use a light coat on both sides of the gaskets, do one side of the gasket first then I like to set them in place on the cover, then do the other side of the gasket while it’s on the cover and then you can go ahead and mount the cover up.