Skip to main content

Reply to "How do you make it rain in California?... buy a speedster."

I'm very late to the party here -- and it is quite a party. TRP (Ted) you have got the madness big-time.  I am so happy for you!!!  There would be a lot to comment on here, and maybe in due time.  But to jump to the end and the valve cover gaskets, you should, as has been mentioned, use original VW covers and bales.  really.  also, you could try my method for sealing, which I developed and used since the '60s.  Are you using cork?  As they say in NJ: fuggedaboudit.  They make a fiber-flex (?) neoprene sort-of gasket (my local auto parts shop, NAPA has these).  Clean the crap out of the cover, and do what you can to make sure it is as flat and true as possible.  Apply some red RTV gasket maker to the cover, and place the gasket onto this.  Set it aside for a night or day to set up.  When you apply the valve cover and gasket ass'y to the engine, make sure that the head surface is clean.  I apply a bit of silicone grease to the rubber gasket that is in contact w/ the head.  Put it up there and pull the bale over.  give the VC a little tap-tap from one side and then the other to be sure it is seated well.  This should do it.  Also, this application works for many many miles.  You can take the Vc off and replace it many times.  After a while it may harden up abit w/ the engine temp, etc., and will have to be replaced.  Cleaning off the old RTV may take a bit of work, but not too bad.  My two old 356s and the newer Speedster have all had it done this way, and it works.  And I agree w/ Gordon that the engine is not "sucking" in your gaskets. they are just not securely set, and if cork, they compress and harden, and get lose and fall down.

 

Let me know how this goes.

×
×
×
×
×