Valve cover gasket

i should get those covers powdercoated like yours! ... maybe someday if my mechanical aptitude takes a giant leap forward
the shop guy told me they can do my rear axle housing for a bit over $100 maybe $140 (I just have to get it disassembled and reassembled with new seals and whatever else!!!
this is gonna be a money pit to make this truck survive in this climate here another 22yrs lol

i think my VCs are weathered looking due to all this humidity here

 

It kind of feels weird getting aluminum VCs powder coated. I usually go into polishing them. Powder coating is a LOT less work.

 

How did you get the covers that clean? Before painting

 

That one is for a different car. In a way, it does look a lot like a Taco VC.

It has never been painted. Its basically sanding with different sandpaper grits and going finer until you get down to wet sanding. Then 000 steel wool and using a dremel polishing brush. Similar to the steps in this guy's video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiIi9EljLSk

 

Looks as if I’m in for the Maxbore tb service now too my butterfly is pretty worn, hope I don’t find anymore gremlins been resealing the whole engine. Anyone ever use the new felpro vc gaskets they are pretty supple I’m giving them a go?

 

ive had ok luck with the valve cover gaskets.. their spark plug tube seals suck though

 

I've been using them for 5+ years on VCs that are very similar to the ones on the 3.4L from a car different manufacturer. Before that, I had problems with the black rubber gaskets becoming hard, brittle and leaking after 3 or 4 years. I just started using them on the 3.4L. So I don't have any history with the 3.4L. Though, I am currently running them in three of my vehicles with aluminum valve covers. It's not a one-off installation. I hope they work as well on the 3.4L as they have on my other engines. That's all I can say today.

The blue gaskets are silicone. Here's a link about the product. One trick that I've learned over the years is to get the mating surfaces squeaky clean before installation. Also, do not use RTV on the gaskets or mating surfaces unless specifically called for by the manufacturer. In that case, FelPro will provide a small tube of BLACK RTV to use in corners. I did not use any RTV on the 3.4L gasket installation. I've seen people use grey or clear RTV on FelPro gaskets thinking more sealant is better. Then they get bad results and blame the gaskets. Note that RTV is required for half moons and the cam end caps that are not part of the gasket kit. I'm sure we all know the spark plug tubes have a taper toward the end and that the tube seals should be mounted to follow that taper. So that the tube seals will slide on easily during VC installation, I use a tiny amount of lubricant on the tubes in the taper area. That lets the VCs drop into place during installation.

https://www.felpro.com/technical/tecblogs/clean-dry.html

All of the gaskets in this picture are FelPro. Does this engine's VCs look similar to a 3.4L?

 

It does look like a 3.4 sweet job. Great to know, thanks, yes the blue ones are their new ones I have. I am amazed at the quality of them honestly. I went with oem for the intake manifold and all the other gaskets including the vc grommets. I am sure if Toyota had that type of valve cover gaskets in the past they would be the oem. They remind me of silicone intakes vaccum hoses from siliconeintakes.com, way more quality, and heat doesn’t seem to affect them like oem rubber. They look pretty cool too. I’ve bought vc gaskets from Toyota stock that didn’t fit as good and they were already somewhat stiff brand new, these felpro have been sitting in a box for a year and came out of the box and took shape like some alien technology, lol. Toyota just mangles those vc gaskets and wads em up in a bag then they have to sit in the sun to reshape. Glad I went with felpro, thank you for the good advice!

 

so how does the bolt, that I assume supposed to be there, just disappear?

 

Was thinking of re wrapping stuff in my bay, anyone else use this ?

 

The 10mm bolts are on this page. @1997tacomav6 used the wire loom brackets from NAPA.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/valve-cover-gasket.606766/page-2#post-20614761

 

Yes the bolt sometimes come loose and fall out. You will have cut the plastic trim back flush and the bracket will fit over the shield.

 

i was wondering what the heck happened to it?
did the mechanic just partially screw it in sideways after that it would pop out?
i do recall hearing something pop and hit the ground when I opened my hood at the detail shop, but did not think anything of it at the time, thought it was a piece of gravel or something
was it cracked already before they undid it? that would be on their notes on my receipt I would think

 

Man that looks good, going to put this on my list.

 

what is approximate cost for something like that?
gotta see what to set aside lol
got other pricey stuff currently working on

 

The powder coat job was $80.

 

Very nice, next time my supercharger needs work I will have it and the cover done at the same time so the painting is matching.
What is the color name for this red?

 

The power coating place does a lot of work on farm implements. I just told them to use a bright RED that they have in stock for tractors. I guess it's Farmall tractor red. Ha!

 

Mine were 50 bucks to powdercoat, but we’re friends too, so you got a damn good deal too@ 80.

 

Finally, after waiting on this part and another I’m finished