The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Oil Leak, Pushrod Cover?

Hi everyone, please forgive my ignorant post... Trying to get some ancient oil leaks under control.

After pulling the valve cover gasket today I was able to see a lot of oil coming from a plate that surrounds the sparkplugs etc. It has several "flat head" screws that hold it in place. Would I be correct in assuming this is the pushrod plate? See Picture I browsed the shop manual and a few parts houses but didn't see any mention of this plate. Any idea where to get one and the gasket if this is what I need?

Thanks a lot for helping the FNG!

called a side cover, less commonly a pushrod cover - the cover itself would likely have to be found used, but gasket available, maybe even at your local parts store

Bill

The pushrod cover gasket is available from any parts store or chev. specialty parts store. You shouldn.t need a new cover but if you do it will have to be a used one.

Ah, excellent. The cover looks okay, but I won't know until I get it off and get the goop off of it. Thanks for the fast reply, I'll put this on the shopping list.

Regards,

Lee

I would like to metion that those flathead screws that you are talking about gave rise to the name "Stovebolt Engine" in 1929!

mlt,

when it comes time to install the cover, i used a technique that made it very easy and less messy. i pre permatexted the cork gasket to the cover ahead of time (day before) then after it set up, i gooped the block side and installed it. i even built a jig that i could set some light weights on to give a nice even pressure around the entire edge of the cover.

the advantage was that i didn't have to deal with the gasket slipping and sliding in all directions while i got it into place.

used the same techinque with the valve cover and oil pan.

good luck.

Well I'll be! That's really neat! I knew I would show my ignorance in this post, lol.

I'll make sure to tell my buddy that when I conscript him to help me put this gasket on.

Thanks for the tips p.j., I need em.

mlt,

wish i could post the pics i have of how i rigged the gaskets up, but i just got this new camera and i have discovered that my comfuser doesn't like the camera...

if you need a better description let me know. it worked beautifully and i should know, this is the second time i have done it and the first time i just gooped and placed the gasket and it was a dismal failure.

how's the weather in baton rouge?

No worries, though I will say that I'm much more proficient with computers than wrenches. Why do I have an old truck again?

You have a card reader for the camera's storage device? These are way easier to use than navigating the pics direct from the camera... Kinda like presetting the gasket eh?

It's been dry actually, moderate drought they say. About 80 in the afternoon, 40-50's at night. Not bad for us. No hurricanes this year so we can celebrate a little!

got the card reader on order.

ironically i do better with a wrench than a computer (although friends of mine would disagree).

spent some time in your part of the world a few lifetimes ago. nice country side. glad to hear the hurricanes are givin you a break.

Ok, I'm going to show my ignorance as well, but no one has brought this up so I thought I would. When I was taking my 216 apart (and not caring what happened to it since I'm putting in a 235), I didn't know there were a bunch of spongy little rings (gaskets?) under that side plate beneath where it would go around the spark plug openings (see, I don't even know what they are called - thus the ignorance). I don't know if you replace those or if they come with the gasket, but I didn't know they were there and I lost one. I just didn't want you to make the same mistake (that's one of the purposes of this forum right?). Take care - that's a nice looking motor.

paul,

the spoungy things you found are cork gaskets that seal the push rod cover around the spark plugs. they are essential if you want to avoid massive amounts of oil coming out and around a spark plug.

when you purchase a new push rod gasket set, the little round corks rings are included in the set. also note that when you pick up the box for the side cover gasket set it will most likely look too small to match the dimensions of the actual cover. this is because they package the perimeter gasket folded over with a couple of carboard tubes to prevent damage to the cork. takes a little work to get it flattened out before you install it but i my guess is they are trying to cut down on the amount of packaging required to ship.

This is great info. Thanks. I ordered a full gasket set today from Napa and I saw those in the picture. Should save me some time when the gasket transplants take place. I'll definitely be doing the happy dance when I get these nagging oil leaks stopped.

On edit: so p.j., did you pre permatex the plug gaskets to the cover as well?

Make sure that the cover is flat on all sealing surfaces and isn't bent. I also make sure and not tighten the bolts to tight, snug and then once I've warmed things up good snug em up a bit more.

mlt,

yes. i put permatex on the rings and the plug gaskets and placed them on the cover at the same time i did the perimeter gasket.

and don is correct about the not over tightening the bolts.

Excellent. I could tell the side cover and valve cover bolts/nuts were just barely tight when I took them off. Good stuff, thanks again.