valve cover gasket contact cement

[WZ JUNK]

I have had the valve covers off of TBI engine.  I bought new Fel Pro gaskets because I did not want to reuse the old.  The new ones are to short.  I have tried to stretch them but they do not stretch and stay.  I tried several glues and clamps to make them stay in position but nothing I have sticks to the silicone gasket.  You can see how much to short they are in the photo.  The Fel Pro instructions state that you are not supposed to glue them or use any kind of sticky stuff.  The contact gasket cement I used in the past is no longer available.  What should I use?

John

[58 Yeoman]

I would've said to soak them in water, but I think I'd take them back. Those can't possibly be for your engine, can they? Or else they're really old and have shrunk.  I've never seen any that short. I just put Felpro's on my 390 last week, and they were slightly too long. I used Permatex liquid in the little bottle on the cover itself.

[kb426]

I've never seen one that short before, John. I think I'd take a valve cover to the parts store and start trying gaskets until I found one that fits.   ?

[tomslik]

I've never seen one that short before, John. I think I'd take a valve cover to the parts store and start trying gaskets until I found one that fits.   ?

ain't gonna happen.they're all like that
I used 3M 08088 spray trim adhesive and stretched them to fit

[WZ JUNK]

I've never seen one that short before, John. I think I'd take a valve cover to the parts store and start trying gaskets until I found one that fits.   ?

I went to two parts stores this morning.  Oreilly, and Auto Zone.  Both sell Fel Pro.  We tried 3 new sets and they were all like the ones in the photo.  This is the same gasket that I had removed from this engine, but in the past I could still buy the contact cement that would hold them in place while I installed them. Now I can not find a contact cement or any glue, including 3M weather strip cement that will stick to the gasket and hold it to the valve cover.  The gasket contact cement is no longer available.   Tomorrow is Monday and my favorite auto parts store will be open.  I will see what they have to offer, or I may try some of the trick super glue stuff that they sell at the car shows.

I am curious if Mr Gasket sells something for this application.  I will do a little searching online.  (edit I found a Mr Gasket set number  5867  I will see if they fit)

John

[kb426]

Another learning experience. I thought valve cover gaskets were simple. Color me lost in the 60's.

[UGLY OLDS]

First thing tomorrow call them direct ....Something wrong there ..None of the sets that I have used were that short .....

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Bob...

[58 Yeoman]

Too bad your mounting holes aren't on the flange...you could use thread to tie it in place.

[WZ JUNK]

I found the contact cement that I had used previously at another store.  It took two attempts but I got the cement to stick to the gasket and the valve cover.  Here is what it looked liked when stretched and clamped the gasket to the cover. I was able to install the valve covers today.  Everything is right in the world tonight.   Note the shoes in the photo.

John

[kb426]

Nice shoes, John. LOL

[Charlie Chops 1940]

I tweeted our esteemed president. He is outraged and will straighten out the gasket manufacturers right away!