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| | | Forums66 Topics128,020 Posts1,055,345 Members48,420 | | Most Online14,466 Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down with Ads! Again, thanks! | | | | Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 1,094 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 1,094 | I have a problem with the side cover for the lifters. Seems no matter how often I snug the bolts up they always seem to loosen up and leak. I thinking of using some blue loctite and some new lock washers. Any others ideas? I've never seen rubber gaskets for a 261, anyone know if they are available?
Tommy 59 apache 1/2t 261 short stepside | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | I glue the gasket ( with Gasgacinch ) to the cover (side cover, valve cover, oil pan) and use no glue on the engine side of the gasket (maybe a small amount of grease on the engine side of the gasket). No leaks, and the covers can be removed quite easily (and, usually put back on with no leaks). Learned this from Mike Aldrich, a professional engine builder/rebuilder. RIP, Mike (he left us last week).
Last edited by tclederman; 06/09/2017 5:11 PM. Reason: added Gasgacinch info)
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,746 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,746 | Use purple Loctite, not blue. It's designed to work better with small-diameter screws like the valve cover and side cover hardware. Make sure the threads are clean. I use spray brake cleaner and an air hose. Loctite will not bond to an oily thread, male or female. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 1,094 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 1,094 | Thanks Tim, Gasgacinch looks like an interesting option if I can find it locally,However after reading the sds sounds pretty dangerous.
Jerry, I figured I would need to clean all surfaces for it to work properly.
Thanks Again.
Tommy 59 apache 1/2t 261 short stepside | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,746 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,746 | If you want to glue a gasket to sheet metal (good idea) the simplest way to do it is to use plain old 3-M trim cement. Put a thin layer on both surfaces, the sheet metal and the gasket, and LET IT DRY! It's a contact cement, so it sticks to itself once it's bonded to each part. Don't make a positioning mistake- - - -once it sticks it hangs on tight.
In the pits at the race track, we called the stuff "gorilla snot"! Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 1,094 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2001 Posts: 1,094 | Yeah Jerry, I remember gorilla snot. It would stick anything to anything, but was sure a lot of work to clean it off later.
Tommy 59 apache 1/2t 261 short stepside | | | | | Joined: Oct 2016 Posts: 916 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2016 Posts: 916 | I really don't like using silicone, but after two gaskets leaking I got so frustrated with my side cover that I set it on the bench, straightened it out a little, and installed it with silicone only (no gasket). It is completely dry now.
~ Dave 1950 Chevrolet 3600 3/4-ton with 261 engine & T5 Transmission | | |
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