I hate RTV

[Smith]

My 78 has been havin' some idlin' issues an' some misses so I decided to take it apart an' replace the lifters...

The PO loved RTV apparently an' used that instead of spendin' 10 on new gaskets, the results? Pictures speak for themselves.

[aerocorey]

Nice...

[bigun]

:omfg::omfg::banghead::banghead::banghead: My dad used to gripe like all get out about people who had to glue engines together! I even learned as a youngling how to make my own gaskets so that there was a minimum of sealer used, of course back then it was this evil stuff called gasket tight dang I hated scraping that stuff off! You might want to pull the pan and check the oil screen too.

[Smith]

Oh after seein' every single pushrod covered in the stuff I better, thanks for the advice bigun! :)

The worst pushrod had a 2in run of it..I don't even know how it moved.

[joe]

:omfg::omfg::banghead::banghead::banghead: My dad used to gripe like all get out about people who had to glue engines together! I even learned as a youngling how to make my own gaskets so that there was a minimum of sealer used, of course back then it was this evil stuff called gasket tight dang I hated scraping that stuff off! You might want to pull the pan and check the oil screen too.
Gawd I remember those days. They had stuff like Gaskacinch(sp?), IndianHead Gasket Shellac etc. Had to dang near grind the stuff off. The only goop I use anywhere anymore is Yahmabond4. Stays semi-firm and is removable and won't fall off and end up in the oil system like too much RTV can. Heck it even keeps old Brit iron and old HD's from leaking...honest!

[bigun]

Gawd I remember those days. They had stuff like Gaskacinch(sp?), IndianHead Gasket Shellac etc. Had to dang near grind the stuff off. The only goop I use anywhere anymore is Yahmabond4. Stays semi-firm and is removable and won't fall off and end up in the oil system like too much RTV can. Heck it even keeps old Brit iron and old HD's from leaking...honest!
AH HA someone else who has known the joys of endless hours of scraping witha single edge razor and hand held wire brush! I can still remember the first time I saw a wire brush that could be chucked into a drill motor I thought I had died and gone to heaven LOL

[BassnTruck]

While it seems they used a littel to much RTV how does that cause idleing issues? There is nothing wrong with RTV. I will use RTV before I use a junk fel-pro or any other cork or paper wanna be gasket.

[joe]

Cork is an excellent gasket material in certain applications. Improper install of it is bad though. Never use goop on cork or over torque the bolts. It's made to suck up oil and swell to give the seal. You goop'em up so they don't soak...you be screwed.

[Smith]

While it seems they used a littel to much RTV how does that cause idleing issues? There is nothing wrong with RTV. I will use RTV before I use a junk fel-pro or any other cork or paper wanna be gasket.

Some of the valves didn't move.

I don't like fel-pro but some of their rubber gaskets are fine.

[drlocke]

X2 on the advice to "go downstairs" and check the sump inlet screen. :eek:

That PO was obviously a lazy slob. :mad:

[gsmikie]

HYLOMAR

[joe]

HYLOMAR
+1 for Hylomar. Good goop. RTV is nothing more than trouble in a tube.

[talntar]

IndianHead Gasket Shellac etc.

hey i still use indian head and love the stuff.
only thing keeping my waterpump with 3 busted bolts from leaking for the past 4 years

[710 Burner]

Not to hijack, but whats wrong with Felpro? I have used them for years with no problem whatsoever.

[Mack_T]

While it seems they used a littel to much RTV how does that cause idleing issues? There is nothing wrong with RTV. I will use RTV before I use a junk fel-pro or any other cork or paper wanna be gasket.

I could see a problem with oil return on this one; having sealer around the pushrods could possibly prevent oil from draining back into the pan... probably forcing some past the valve seals into the cylinders even. Valve seals are not exactly the greatest to begin with (sometimes called umbrellas) and they really only are there to prevent too much oil from getting down the valve stem.

Good example: my VW flat-four has no valve seals, the valves are above where the oil drains back to the sump ;)

I'd rather use a regular gasget; normally I'll try to find a good quality cork/ rubber gasget to get the job done. I heard a long time ago some people will use chap stick on the surface that is hard to get to; preventing the gasget from sticking over time. On a valve cover, I'd rather scrape gasget from the cover (away from the engine) rather than on the head itself.