valve cover gaskets
- Thread starter tommyleea
- Start date
Ok..Thanks..I thought mine might have the slots, but they are just smooth edges. Thanks again..
Daves55Sedan
Well-known member
All the repro parts suppliers are now discontinuing the plain valve cover gaskets without the tabs. They are now only supplying the truck valve cover gaskets which do have the tabs.
In the last 3 decades, both types were included in a full engine gasket set, but not anymore.
They expect you to get an Exacto-knife and cut the tabs off if you are using them for a car.
Same thing with carburetor rebuild kits. They are no longer supplying the 1954/1955 Ford EBU/Holley 2100 intake manifold gasket, only the 1956 ECG carb manifold gasket. No hole punching or cutting is required here though, but the gasket sticks out a little more in the back (and the venturi holes are larger than they should be for use with an EBU).
You can expect to see many more things going this way in the future, as the manufacturers cut costs while raising retail prices.
In the last 3 decades, both types were included in a full engine gasket set, but not anymore.
They expect you to get an Exacto-knife and cut the tabs off if you are using them for a car.
Same thing with carburetor rebuild kits. They are no longer supplying the 1954/1955 Ford EBU/Holley 2100 intake manifold gasket, only the 1956 ECG carb manifold gasket. No hole punching or cutting is required here though, but the gasket sticks out a little more in the back (and the venturi holes are larger than they should be for use with an EBU).
You can expect to see many more things going this way in the future, as the manufacturers cut costs while raising retail prices.
TedEaton
Senior Member
Actually the 1954 thru 1959 valve cover gaskets do not have the tabs whether its a car or truck. Starting in 1960, the Ford Y covers be it a car or truck started using the tabbed valve cover gaskets. As a general rule, if the tin covers are plain, they are non-tabbed. If the covers have 'FORD' on them, they are tabbed. Ted Eaton.
KULTULZ
Well-known member
Alaska Jim
Well-known member
The last gasket set we got recently had 2 sets of Valve cover gaskets. a thick set with no tabs for the Aluminum bird covers and a set of thinner ones with tabs for the sheet metal covers.
KULTULZ
Well-known member
Try here for a gasket source - https://bestgasket.com/
KULTULZ
Well-known member
It's fascinating what little obscure factoids you can pickup following some of these forums.
Shown below -
Attachments
Daves55Sedan
Well-known member
If you look at the bottom of one of the older Ford valve covers, you will notice that there is a metal ring resistance welded to the inside and it sticks down a little way so that the ring holds the inside of the gasket from protruding into the valve chamber, missing the gasket surface altogether.
Not sure if the newer ones had the ring, maybe they deleted it, but it appears that the original design of the tabbed gaskets was also to keep the gaskets properly aligned within the mating gasket surfaces.
I have only seen the tabbed gaskets in F100 pickups, but never paid much attention to car engine details after the '59 model year.
Not sure if the newer ones had the ring, maybe they deleted it, but it appears that the original design of the tabbed gaskets was also to keep the gaskets properly aligned within the mating gasket surfaces.
I have only seen the tabbed gaskets in F100 pickups, but never paid much attention to car engine details after the '59 model year.