The Dodge Challenger Message Board

New member here. 1st post.
I've read through quite alot of the historical posts first.
I'm having trouble sealing the passenger side valve cover on my 1970 440. Checking the great breather/pcv info you gave also.
I believe I read about making sure the drain holes are clear in the heads. Send wire thru hole to pan to make sure.
I had my cover off today for another go at sealing them.
I could not find ANY type of small drain hole in either corner.
The heads are very clean inside though there is some standing oil at the bottom of the gasket flange on the head.
Do you have a pic of where these holes should be exactly?
Any sealant/gasket brand/types you recommend for a good seal for a seldom driven street car?
The valve cover is fairly straight but could use some help.
How do you go about straightening the cover flange? Small hammer and an anvil? Sorry if these are lame questions, but I just want the leak to be fixed this time.
p.s. Great Site. I'll be around for a long time!

Hello and welcome to the board.

chevyconvert wrote:The valve cover is fairly straight but could use some help.

That is your problem.

I don't know where this "drain hole" thing comes from. There are non. The only hole is the oil feed hole and you will only see that if you remove the head.
The oil just pours down into the valley around the pushrods and into the sump.

Your problem is simply that the valve covers you have are warped.

If you are not concerned about originallity get a pair of cast valve covers like the mopar performance ones and use a thick rubberised type gasket. You will have to buy some slightly longer bolts as well because the thicker metal and gasket will make the stock fasteners too short. I use hex socket type stainless screws for this. One inch long and quarter inch UNC thread.

Thanks Dave, I do want to keep the original valve cover look.
Any methodology/ tools ideas for straightening the gasket flange?

apologies if pic is too large..computers aren't one of my strong points...

You need to be good with the hammer then. You need a good eye and a good straight edge to measure it against. Don't use too heavy a hammer. A good rubberised gasket will help.
Make sure you tighten the bolts up evenly. Work from the inside out-over as you tighten and do it in several stages. There is a fine line between tight enough and too tight. Experience is the only guide.

thanks Dave. Before your reply I'd purchased Mr. gasket brand cork gaskets. Your thoughts on cork?

Personally. I don't like cork. Or maybe cork don't like me. But I always end up fighting with it.

Probably because I am removing valve covers etc on a regular basis. Maybe they don't like being messed with a lot.

They compress and spread too easily for me. They don't bounce back to shape either.

At the moment I am using solid "rubber" (not sure what they are made of actually?) gaskets on the valve covers. No problems with them and they seem pretty indestructable. Plus they are orange in colour which is what your factory ones would have looked like because the factory painted the engines after assembly.