Valve cover spreader bar installation - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

tucsonjwt · 02-14-2015, 08:51 PM

I am installing Magnum steel core valve cover gaskets in an attempt to end my 454 valve cover oil leaks. I am considering also installing valve cover spreader bars. Has anyone installed these. I see they have turned up edges, so I assume that the turned edges install downward to apply additional pressure at two points beyond the bolt location - correct? Otherwise, why wouldn't the bars just be flat?

Also, wouldn't these thick spreader bars require longer bolts? The stock bolts are only about 1/2" long.

Here are some pics:

piecesparts · 02-14-2015, 10:02 PM

The spreader bars install with the very outer tips turned UP. The ball at the base of the ends is where the pressure is placed on the valve cover.

The very first picture has the three on the left pictured properly.

Bigstevex4 · 02-14-2015, 10:25 PM

Second that ends turned up.

enaberif · 02-14-2015, 11:43 PM

Ends up and I put some 4:1 heat shrink on mine so they wouldn't scratch the valve covers and provide a bit more pressure.

tucsonjwt · 02-15-2015, 12:04 AM

Thanks for the input. The only spreader bars I saw in person were at Pep Boys and they were totally flat. It just looks odd with the ends up.

What is 4:1 heat shrink?

andrewmp6 · 02-15-2015, 01:41 AM

Heat shrink is used in wiring and 4 to 1 is the ratio it shrinks to.

rich weyand · 02-15-2015, 02:15 AM

The pressure spreaders may or may not end your valve cover leaking problems, but I can tell you one thing that will, spreader bars or no spreader bars.

Get some medium weight TiteSeal. It's an aviation product, so you can get it at skygeek.com. You spread it on the head ridge, both sides of the gasket, and the gasket flange on the valve cover. When you put them on, they WILL NOT LEAK. TiteSeal does not harden, so you are not gluing them on, but sealing them.

Two notes. One, clean all the surfaces with lacquer thinner. If there is oil on them, the TiteSeal can't bond. Two, rub the TiteSeal into the surface, so it gets a good bond. You just rub it back and forth a bit. Also, it doesn't need to be a very thick layer, because it is going on both surfaces.

motornut · 02-15-2015, 11:18 AM

make sure to flatten the cover lip before installing the gasket,some get distorted.

02-14-2015, 08:51 PM	#1
tucsonjwt Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,188	Valve cover spreader bar installation I am installing Magnum steel core valve cover gaskets in an attempt to end my 454 valve cover oil leaks. I am considering also installing valve cover spreader bars. Has anyone installed these. I see they have turned up edges, so I assume that the turned edges install downward to apply additional pressure at two points beyond the bolt location - correct? Otherwise, why wouldn't the bars just be flat? Also, wouldn't these thick spreader bars require longer bolts? The stock bolts are only about 1/2" long. Here are some pics: Attached Images

02-14-2015, 10:02 PM	#2
piecesparts Parts and more parts Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lebo, Kansas (middle of nowhere Posts: 6,821	Re: Valve cover spreader bar installation The spreader bars install with the very outer tips turned UP. The ball at the base of the ends is where the pressure is placed on the valve cover. The very first picture has the three on the left pictured properly. __________________ Frank

02-14-2015, 10:25 PM	#3
Bigstevex4 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Spearfish South Dakota Posts: 407	Re: Valve cover spreader bar installation Second that ends turned up.

02-14-2015, 11:43 PM	#4
enaberif Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 1,181	Re: Valve cover spreader bar installation Ends up and I put some 4:1 heat shrink on mine so they wouldn't scratch the valve covers and provide a bit more pressure.

02-15-2015, 12:04 AM	#5
tucsonjwt Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,188	Re: Valve cover spreader bar installation Thanks for the input. The only spreader bars I saw in person were at Pep Boys and they were totally flat. It just looks odd with the ends up. What is 4:1 heat shrink?

02-15-2015, 01:41 AM	#6
andrewmp6 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Louisville,Ky Posts: 5,811	Re: Valve cover spreader bar installation Heat shrink is used in wiring and 4 to 1 is the ratio it shrinks to.

02-15-2015, 02:15 AM	#7
rich weyand Registered User Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Bloomington Indiana Posts: 1,041	Re: Valve cover spreader bar installation The pressure spreaders may or may not end your valve cover leaking problems, but I can tell you one thing that will, spreader bars or no spreader bars. Get some medium weight TiteSeal. It's an aviation product, so you can get it at skygeek.com. You spread it on the head ridge, both sides of the gasket, and the gasket flange on the valve cover. When you put them on, they WILL NOT LEAK. TiteSeal does not harden, so you are not gluing them on, but sealing them. Two notes. One, clean all the surfaces with lacquer thinner. If there is oil on them, the TiteSeal can't bond. Two, rub the TiteSeal into the surface, so it gets a good bond. You just rub it back and forth a bit. Also, it doesn't need to be a very thick layer, because it is going on both surfaces. __________________ Rich Weyand 1978 K10 RCSB DD.

02-15-2015, 11:18 AM	#8
motornut 78K & 79C Jimmys Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Ottawa Ont CANADA Posts: 7,901	Re: Valve cover spreader bar installation make sure to flatten the cover lip before installing the gasket,some get distorted. __________________ John 1978 GMCJimmy4X4-350/203 1979 GMCJimmy4X2-305/350



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