The only advantage of going through all the trial & error effort of adjusting/installing the seals under the covers that I can think of, might be the ability to finally upgrade from the OEM type neoprene seal which always seems to shred debris that inevitably falls into the oil/valve gear when they are pulled off of the threaded studs (especially when the alum/T-Bird-type covers are removed). With an inner seal improvised from a more durable modern material, it would stay permanently in place on the stud threads, which also might allow the covers to pop off easier, and a more simple silicon-type outer sealing ring/gasket could be replaced when the covers are reinstalled, which would provide an oil-tight seal. Since the inner seal would almost never be removed/pulled off, thus no danger of leaving debris behind that might foul the oiling system.

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

Thanks for the many varied and interesting responses. My '55 Shop Manual does not show how the grommets were installed and I had never heard of them being placed under the valve cover until reading this article so I threw the question out to the "Supreme Beings" of the site.



Thanks for your answers,


"The Master Cylinder"

Enjoying life at the beach in SOCAL

From the factory and reinforced in the shop manuals, the grommets are on top of the valve covers, not the bottom.  The only reason to even consider putting the grommets under the cover is from an aesthetic point of view and that’s at the risk of having oil leaks at the valve cover gasket itself.  Going back to any Ford Shop Manual that covers a Y and reviewing this should remove any doubts how the valve cover grommets are installed regardless of what the exploded views in the Chassis Parts and Accessories Catalogs shows.  For the 1957 Shop Manual, refer to page 1-69, section 12 for the proper valve cover grommet orientation.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Just to clarify this grommet question a bit, if that's possible?. One of the Doc Fromader project engines had custom valve covers on it. If I recall they required different studs, which may have been a factor in putting them underneath the covers. I've never seen them underneath either, so ??...

Paul

About 50 years ago, I bought several real low mile motors out of wrecks. I doubt that any of them ever had a valve cover off. I have never seen one with the seal under the cover. Nor have I ever seen a stud with anything that looked like it was designed to hold a grommet. A lot of valve covers were warped by over tightening the nuts. I wonder if it wasn't a fix to prevent this.

Kenneth

Fredricksburg, Texas

Ahh dont worry about it too much whack them in from the top, put a bit of non hardening sealant around them and the gaskets dont crank it down too hard and you shouldn't have a prob! All good Bobs your Aunty!



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"

Over the last 50 years,I've had around 60-70 Y-blocks,including some that I know have never had the valve covers off,and I've never seen one with the seals on the inside.Maybe it's a good idea....I've just never seen it.

 

Paul,

Boonville,MO

If they did it at the factory I would think they would have used a stud with the right depth thread to set the top spacing or a tube spacer to slip over the stud. I think this could be a debate for the ages. Not doubting the validity of information and opinions on this subject. Chuck in NH

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

On both my 54 (312) and my 56 TBird (312) I put the seals on the inside. I also heard that they should be this way. My 239 did not have them this way. Both cars have the aluminum TBird covers. When I put the 312 together, I went trial and error in determining the height and it seems to have worked out ok. What I did was take some self locking nuts (the all steel kind, put them backward on the studs and put a flat washer on that. The seal goes on the washer, but I put in it the valve cover first.



The regular nut that holds the stand goes on first.

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

apropos of nothing, one of the old timers around here liked my motor, and showed up one day with some familiar looking objects with center holes drilled in them. did you know a Susan B Anthony dollar was the same size as the valve cover grommet washer?



miker

55'bird

32 roadster F code

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ