Valve Cover Help/Questions

[DukesRide]

Hey guys I am replacing a set of valve covers on one of my 4runners. The set that I am looking at installing are from a local salvage yard. My question concerns the metal sleeves that are inset in the valve cover. The ones where the bolts pass through to attach valve cover to the head. I notice these sleeves are slightly taller than the actual plastic portion of the valve cover. Are they supposed to be this way?

I searched the forum for any information on this and found plenty of gasket info but didn't see any info on these sleeves....

 

[Hyde802]

Why are you replacing the covers?

 

[DukesRide]

I had the long block replaced due to over heating and when we got to the valve covers we thought that we could reuse the old ones but they are too distorted and partially melted around the bolt holes and there is a noticeable gap in the rear drivers side that I don't think can be corrected. I am hoping that the set that I picked up will seal. The engine that they came off of didn't seem to have any leakage from the valve covers.... although you could clearly see where the previous tech had used a good amount of the black FIPG all around the gasket to get them to seal. Looks like FIPG is going to become my new friend.

 

[run4yota]

yes it's normal for the sleeves to be slightly taller. it's to prevent you from over tightening and cracking the cover.

also use felpro gaskets... and goood luck... i've done this 4 times this year a the mother F***ers still leak like a mother F***er! lol