Gasket Numbers

Topic: Gasket Numbers (Read 1294 times) previous topic - next topic

Gasket Numbers

July 14, 2008, 12:15:09 AM

Just outta curiosity, and maybe to save a little time for someone working on our vintage vehicles, would anyone be interested in a sticky or thread that had FelPro part numbers for different gaskets and sets? If we have a FelPro number, it can be crossed to any other vendor's numbers if ya don't like FelPro. (Ford seems to).

I ran into a wild ride trying to find the EGR spacer plate gasket (spacer-manifold) recently, as well as a TBI repair kit. I've also learned the hard way about the differences in valve cover gaskets too. I prefer neoprene/rubber VC gaskets, but they simply don't exist for my vintage 3.8. I can have any kind of VC gasket I want, as long as it's cork. Or at least I haven't found any rubber ones yet. I hate cork VC gaskets because they get hard and start drooling. That makes it hard to keep an engine bay clean.

I know a lotta folks are thinking this is easy enough to find on the internet. Well, either I'm looking in the wrong places, or the ones that claim it's easy to find these parts haven't had to look for them. I've stumped more than one parts house recently.

I'd be happy to contribute what I know or have bought recently. You're on your own for pricing, I just want the numbers published somewhere, all together, where I don't have to hunt forever to find them. In my cirspoogestance, a 1986 Thunderbird 3.8L V6 isn't necessarily a 1986 Thunderbird 3.8L V6. Seems there was a change on 01/15/86 in the model year that switched from stamped steel valve covers to plastic covers, and the two are NOT interchangeable. Twice now, I've been handed the wrong VC gaskets because my car was built before 01/15/86. (I bought it November 1985)

If you're interested, perhaps two stickies, one for V6's and one for V8's. I might even figure out a way to make a reference page that can be updated without having to read through endless wordy messages from that guy Old_Paint.

Gasket Numbers

Reply #1 – July 14, 2008, 12:48:57 AM

Quote from: Old_Paint;227264

I prefer neoprene/rubber VC gaskets, but they simply don't exist for my vintage 3.8. I can have any kind of VC gasket I want, as long as it's cork. Or at least I haven't found any rubber ones yet. I hate cork VC gaskets because they get hard and start drooling. That makes it hard to keep an engine bay clean.

Fel-Pro PermaDryPlus valve cover gaskets - VS50212T

Gasket Numbers

Reply #2 – July 14, 2008, 11:01:24 PM

Those fit the post 01/15/86 bird quite nicely, but won't work on my 3.8 VC's (pre 01/15/86). I found this out the hard way. The VC's on my bird have locator bumps around the bolt holes to align the gasket. Those, you will find, have nifty little bushings molded in the bolt holes, which will not allow the VC to tighten down on gasket surface. I'd have to enlarge the holes in the VC's to permit that bushing to go through, and then add washers to the bolts to keep them from distorting the VC. Been there, done that, with that exact gasket number.

Gasket Numbers

Reply #3 – July 14, 2008, 11:59:47 PM

Works on my pre 01/15/86 (stamped steel) VCs

Gasket Numbers

Reply #4 – July 15, 2008, 02:18:18 PM

Then I guess the box I got had the wrong gaskets in it. Yes, it was an unopened and sealed box.

Gasket Numbers

Reply #5 – July 15, 2008, 02:27:58 PM

It's been years since I put them in. Maybe I modified them, I cannot remember. I'll take a look in a month or so when I swap engines in that car.

Gasket Numbers

Reply #6 – July 16, 2008, 08:02:22 AM

The fact it's been years since you've had to service them is EXACTLY why I wanted neoprene. Trust me, I've hunted high and low for them. Even called FelPro, and was given the sad news that neoprene just ain't in the cards for my 3.8 unless I mod the VC's.

On the VW, however, neoprene won't take the head temps (400*+). Gotta stay with cork there.

My '92 F-150 came with neoprene on the 5.0, and nary a leak yet. Both VC's still dry as a bone.

Gasket Numbers

Reply #7 – July 19, 2008, 12:38:37 PM

I was able to get blue rubber VC gaskets for my motor. I think my block is 84 and my heads are 86. I remember it being Fel Pro, but I must be mistaken.