TR Cam Covers

Anyone got any tips on sealing the cam covers on a Testarossa. I am on my third attempt and so far when I get the o-rings around the spark plug holes sealed then the perimeter gasket leaks and when the perimeter gaskets seal then the o-rings leak. I have checked the cover for trueness and it looks really good. Have torqued everything evenly in crisscross pattern etc. I'm at a loss here-- never been so frustrated trying over and over to get such a simple component to seal. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Hi Bruce,

The gaskit set consists of the long upper and lower gaskits and the small gaskits for the center studs.

are you sure you're putting the little gaskits on the center studs? if not the covers will try to warp.

Regards, JRV

JRV

I have been repacing the small gaskets at the center studs also. One set of cam cover gaskets I got had regular gaskets for the center spark plug holes (not o-rings) and when I talked to the parts dept they said that there was an early and late design and they had sent the wrong set. This made me think that Ferrari also found problems with sealing in this area. When I inquired about the possibility of obtaining another cam cover they said that was virtually impossible as the componenets were hand matched and fitted at the factory?? The best luck I have had is using Dow 730 sealant on the o-rings which I really didn't want to do. The first installation I just used a good Dow silicone grease on the o-rings like you would do with a mormal o-ring fitment to allow them to "work". This resulted in the worst seepage of all. I really hate resorting to 'gooping' up the gaskets to make them seal but it seems that is all that will work. At least I have the sequence down by now so that I can get it off and back on in a couple of hours.

Bruce,

strange problem you have that I can't recall encountering before.

When I do run across unexplained situations like you seem to have I step back and search for answers to the problem areas that might lend info toward solutions.

I never gave it a lot of thought, however reflecting on the dynamics, I would guess they are machine matched (or at a minimun size matched) to each head. The issue most critical on the surface would be the compression fit on the front cam seals. To much or to little could easily cause problems.

Depending on the size of the leaks it may be neccesary to pull the cover again for a through inspection of each aspect (flatness, warpage, cracks) and each individual piece (gaskits, o-rings). If you can determine that there are no issues with the parts themselves, then a careful look at instalation procedure would be in order.

My procedure consists of perfect cleanliness of all surfaces, very careful dry checking of fitment of all the gaskits, then application of a thin coat of Hi-Temp Copper Silicone Sealant to the paper gskts, instalation of orings held in place wih a thin coat of same sealant, careful instalation of the cover, seating fully with hand pressure and light tapping into place with a rubber mallet if necc., then replacement of all the washers and nuts, then starting in the middle, gently and carefully start snugging up the nuts working slowly from middle out to the ends in an X pattern...I repeat the snugging/tightening procedure in 4-5 steps until the cover nuts are fully tightened.

HTH's and if you find some issue your feedback would be appreciated.

Regards, JRV