2005 5.0 MPI Valve Cover Replacement Questions

[OllieC]

Good evening. I have a few questions on replacing valve covers.

I ordered both the port and starboard valve covers and gaskets. I was able to get the older gasket #27-17467 from a vendor online. He thought he had two of the older part number and instead sent me one of the superseded part number 27-8M0150306 along with the older version. I dry fitted them on the new valve covers and the older part number was short by about a 1/2” and red. It’s silicon so I just stretched it a little and it fit. The new superseded part number is short about 2” and blue? Do I just stretch to fit? It does fit when stretched out, but I I’m not sure if you lose some sealing ability?

For the valve covers, has anyone experienced removing the old ones and replacing the new ones without removing the risers and elbows? ‘Idiot mereplaced the manifolds, risers and elbows last week and only thought about the valve covers now. I really don’t want to tear down the risers and elbows because I assume I’d have to replace $120 worth of Quicksilver gaskets.

The last answer I am having trouble finding is the torque specifications for the covers. They have 4 bolts in the center. Do any of you have that spec?

everything I ordered is OEM Mercruiser/Quicksilver

Thanks in advance.
Ollie

 

[Scott Danforth]

you realize these are nothing special. these are just 1986 and later Small Block Chevy valve covers and gaskets available everywhere.

buying from a dealer you over-paid. gaskets should be about $25 a set (felpro)

new stamped steel valve covers from GM under $50

with the center bolts, you tighten them down until the bolt squashes the seal and you hit the metal sleeve. I think torque would be in the 25 inch-lb range.

 

[OllieC]

I appreciate it, and I did get a deal on the gaskets close to $30. Not so much on the Quicksilver covers.

I don’t want to smash the gaskets and create a leak that’s why I was asking for torque specs. The closest I could find online is 110 in lbs.

Also, again, I’m concerned about the gasket being stretched.

 

[Scott Danforth]

you tighten down until you hit the crush sleeve. you cant squash the gaskets beyond that.

 

[OllieC]

With the superseded gasket that is 2" shorter, do I just stretch it around the valve cover gasket location and call it good? Again, it seems to fit when stretched, I was only thinking there may be thinner points in the silicon when it is stretched which potentially can cause a leak.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I wouldnt trust the gasket if its 2" shorter. that would indicate it probably sat on a shelf in a hot warehouse and shrunk.

I would hit your local NAPA parts store and get gaskets for a center mount SBC

Note, there is only perimeter mount and center mount.

 

[OllieC]

I wouldnt trust the gasket if its 2" shorter. that would indicate it probably sat on a shelf in a hot warehouse and shrunk.

I would hit your local NAPA parts store and get gaskets for a center mount SBC

Note, there is only perimeter mount and center mount.

Thanks Scott. Of course I'm not hearing back from the seller on fleabay.

 

[Scott Danforth]

get a set of SBC felpro valve cover gaskets from your local auto parts store. if skippy behind the counter asks year, make, model you know the guy doesnt know anything about parts (why I suggested NAPA)

if he is a true parts guy, he will ask perimeter or center

If only skippy is available, use any 1987 - 2000 GM vehicle (car or truck) with a 305 or 350 motor

 

[OllieC]

get a set of SBC felpro valve cover gaskets from your local auto parts store. if skippy behind the counter asks year, make, model you know the guy doesnt know anything about parts (why I suggested NAPA)

if he is a true parts guy, he will ask perimeter or center

If only skippy is available, use any 1987 - 2000 GM vehicle (car or truck) with a 305 or 350 motor

Yep, did that last night at NAPA. Walked in there with the part number in hand. This one was a little short too, but not as short as the Quicksilver one I ordered. Seemed more pliable as well. You may be correct on the Quicksilver one sitting in a hot warehouse or something of that nature. The date stamp is Jan 2020, but it is defiantly shorter and more rigid.

Thanks for the help. I should have come on here before hitting fleabay and spending twice as much. Going to attempt the install this afternoon without pulling everything off. If I have to remove the risers, it's waiting until next year.

 

[Scott Danforth]

many times you can rotate the valve cover to clear the exhaust manifolds.