Disintegrating sealer inside valve cover

[Reinier]

Hi guys,

I pulled my valve cover off my 1977 280Z yesterday for the first time (bought the car this spring) and when I looked at the inside I had a bit of a nasty surprise. They have used some kind of sealer or glue along the side of the bevel which has hardened and is now breaking off. It has the consistency of burned caramel and I guess I will have to pray that the broken off pieces will not destroy my engine...

I'm going to remove all that crap and I was wondering if I should put some new sealer along that edge or if I can just leave it clean. If I need to put new sealer there, what product should I use which will not fall apart or come loose after a few years?

Thank you!

Reinier
The Netherlands

Edited October 30, 2018 by Reinier

[siteunseen]

That looks like an add on to me.  My covers have a hardened caulk looking substance around that shield.  Don't know what it is though, sorry.  Someone will chime in and tell us, I've read it before on here.

[grannyknot]

Some past owner must have had the valve cover bead blasted and had to remove the oil baffle to clean it.  I have had good success with Three Bond 1184, it has very good resistance to oil but both surfaces must be pristine clean so you would have to remove the baffle and degrease both the valve cover and the oil baffle.  You could use no sealant but then you would have more oil mist coming out of the breather valve.

[Reinier]

Thanks for the info guys.