The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Gasket behind main cap: 235

Hello all,

I just took the front main cap off my 1957 235 and found this gasket behind it. Could someone tell me what this gasket is called and where I can get a new one? It feels as though it's a rubbery type material.

If I can't find one, can I use RTV in this area?

Picture of where the rear cap was: click here

Thanks,
Brandon

That would be the gasket behind the front plate on the engine. It extends up to just under the water pump. I would suggest replacing the whole thing. Hopefully some one can come along with some better news...

I recently had good luck on one like this by laying the main cap on a new backing plate to block gasket an aligning the two securing cap screw holes and cutting the gasket across the top of the main cap. Then permatexing it to the backing plate being sure the perimeter is sealed or you will have an oil leak. The same goes for the main cap.

Thanks guys. Do you know where I could get that gasket by itself?

Is black RTV and permatex the same thing?

Thanks,
Brandon

If I were you I'd just do it right.
Pull the timing cover,and the pushrod cover slacken the valve adjusters pull the pushrods and lifters
pull the cam and the crank gear and replace the gasket the right way.
This will ensure you have a good clean gasket surface....

and no leaks..

Jeremy

What you're seeing is some shade tree mechanic's over-use of blue RTV gasket sealer. The original gasket was a simple paper gasket that can be duplicated by tracing the outline of the front of the main cap on a piece of gasket paper and making sure it's a close fit where the cap meets the block. Glue the gasket section onto the main cap with 3M yellow trim cement, and run a SMALL bead of RTV along the seam where the cap, block, and front plate meet. There's no oil pressure against that gasket, so it's not rocket science to make a tight, leakproof seal. Just pay attention to detail and make sure the assembly is accurate and clean.
Jerry

these make the gasket fabrication a bit easier...
HF hole punch set

Thanks Jerry. Those hole punches are pretty awesome. I'll have to pick some of those up.

I was confused because parts of the gasket appeared to be paper but other parts seemed to be rubber, so I wasn't sure what I was seeing.

What type of gasket material should I use?

Thanks,
Brandon

I suspect the rubber you see is the pan end gasket.

There is some of that as well, but the actual gasket behind the main had both rubber and paper to it, most likely as a result of rubber sealant being used as Jerry mentioned.

Brandon

Well, I got a paper gasket today at the parts house. The smallest they had was 1/32. It looked a bit thick to me but he said they couldn't get any any smaller so I guess I'll try to make it work.

Brandon

As long as it does not move the cap back enough so the bolts do not line up you should be fine.
A lot of times when I need a special thickness gasket I go to my recycle bin with my micrometer, in most cases cardboard like cereal boxes works fine.

That's good to know. Thanks Dave. One time I made a water pump gasket for out of a cereal box because I was in a real pinch. We have plenty of those boxes, I'll have to keep that in mind.

Brandon

Pizza Boxes make great gaskets for rear end covers,in a pinch!
Regards,
steve sr.

Brandon,carquest part number JV 754 is a small gasket kit with the following.
water pump,thermostat,fuel pump,front plate,timing chain cover,etc.This kit is for 1954-1962 235 and 261 engines.here is a picture of the gasket. front engine plate gasket
This gasket is made by interface solutions and the cn-705 number on it tell what type of gasket material it's made from.
napa
napa part # FPG TCS45114
Amazon # victor jv754
ebay type in jv754
Napa has the cheapest price.

If you need me to trace it out,I will.I would try to get one at the parts store,they are thin.

Tim