Valve covers

my '96 3.9 disco is leaking around the valve covers, i think changing the gaskets is probably the best course of action, i have a pair of cork gaskets i bought for a 4.6 p38 by accident as it had rubber ones instead, will these fit the 3.9?

Can't say I'm sure but you can get rubber rocker cover gaskets which are better than the cork ones which almost always leak after only a short time.

i got a brand new set of gaskets if you want em

Rubbers are best, but make sure both surfaces are dry and clean, and you may want to hold them in place with a touch of Hylomar so they don't move when you manouevre the rockers covers in place. I found it easier to have them in the covers than laying on the block and fitting the covers to them.

There's a torque setting for the screws as well. 8nm or 6lb ft.

Peter

8nm is mad, dont have a torque wrench that goes that low!

Adam_W said:

8nm is mad, dont have a torque wrench that goes that low!

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Could be well worth getting one that will go that low. I went through several water pump gaskets on my diesel trying to judge 7lbs by hand, till I gave up and got a smaller wrench.

The 3.9 rocker covers are the same as the 3.5 and the gaskets for them were cork,they never leaked unlike the rubber ones on the 3.9 that leaked as soon as i used 5w40 oil, but just a nip on the screws stopped that.
In the past if I have had to replace a cork casket I use a smeer of Hylomar on the rocker cover side.
Torque cylinder head bolts but rocker cover screws what ever next

discool said:

Torque cylinder head bolts but rocker cover screws what ever next

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Better to torque them properly than strip the threads, Pete Alloy is not very forgiving of overtightened screws.

I'm at a slight advantage as I do have a small Britool 3/8" drive torque wrench that goes to 8lb ft, but working on the rebuild this year I found that my three torque wrenches didn't cover some of the lower settings (15 - 20 lb ft) so had to buy yet another one.

Peter

Hi Pete, I also have a 3/8 socket set and not adverse to buying tools so i may look for a small torque wrench to add to the set. All I done in the past is to do up the cover screws till no more and then nip up a quarter of a turn so never needed a torque wrench.
Although I do use my 1/2 wrench when required.

discool said:

Hi Pete, I also have a 3/8 socket set and not adverse to buying tools so i may look for a small torque wrench to add to the set. All I done in the past is to do up the cover screws till no more and then nip up a quarter of a turn so never needed a torque wrench.
Although I do use my 1/2 wrench when required.

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Worth having the lower ranges, there are quite a few vehicle jobs that need something that goes really low down in the torque range.

I think we bought the 3/8" one for some injector work on the Bosch in-line pumps on Scania trucks, back in the 1970's. It paid for itself quite a few times over.

Peter

Tell the truth I never thought about owning a low torque wrench, over the years I have just gone by feel and my experance of course.

But trying to find a small torque wrench on the web that suits me (price) I have found they are now used all the time by cycle and motor cycle enthusiasts supprise supprise. I've had both and never bothered still don't really, perhaps only head bolts, diff pinion nut and wheel nuts on the disco and a ball joint I recently replaced and I think thats is it.
And the stuff I done in the past big ends, clutches, steering all without a wrench.

Anyway still looking

i'll have to double check my 3/8" wrench as it may actually go lower than i thought.

this job is turning into a pain, having to disconnect/remove more than i originally thought and iv only half my tools at the mo

Adam_W said:

i'll have to double check my 3/8" wrench as it may actually go lower than i thought.

this job is turning into a pain, having to disconnect/remove more than i originally thought and iv only half my tools at the mo

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That's the advantage of being a "senior" member of the forum I have had a few years a collecting tools from WW2 stuff my dad had to s/h spanners etc. picked up at classic car shows, 'dead mans tools' as i call them, still with their initials scratched on.. bless them.

id have all my tools but most have been packed away for a garage rebuild.

Well working in the snow today i got one side finished.. what a pain! the other can wait till i have a free weekend.

Found my 3/8" torque wrench only goes down to 10lb/ft so just nipped the bolts up, it'll do!