Discussion
That's 2 questions!
Ford Gaskets are self-adhesive on one side anyway (you stick them inside the cover) so no sealant required on that side - on the bottom, I've sometimes used blue hylomar but I don't think you need it really.
Also - Ford gaskets have little metal pins so that you can't over-compress the gasket. Pattern gaskets without pins can easily be squished right out of the join, and oil just pishes out then.
Ford Gaskets are self-adhesive on one side anyway (you stick them inside the cover) so no sealant required on that side - on the bottom, I've sometimes used blue hylomar but I don't think you need it really.
Also - Ford gaskets have little metal pins so that you can't over-compress the gasket. Pattern gaskets without pins can easily be squished right out of the join, and oil just pishes out then.
No and yes (imho)
Cork should seal on its own (others will disagree) and the genuine Ford gaskets should have little metal bits in them to prevent them squashing down too far.
They should also be self adhesive on one side but stock is now getting quite old so adhesive may not be very good. Part No. F1651474 £12.89 pair inc vat recently from Bristol St. Motors.
As a little aside, I apprenticed as a commercial vehicle mechanic with Ford and glueing the cork rocker cover gasket to the rocker cover with Evo-Stik was the approved way to do it on diesel engines (the only cars with diesels in those days were taxi's).
Cork should seal on its own (others will disagree) and the genuine Ford gaskets should have little metal bits in them to prevent them squashing down too far.
They should also be self adhesive on one side but stock is now getting quite old so adhesive may not be very good. Part No. F1651474 £12.89 pair inc vat recently from Bristol St. Motors.
As a little aside, I apprenticed as a commercial vehicle mechanic with Ford and glueing the cork rocker cover gasket to the rocker cover with Evo-Stik was the approved way to do it on diesel engines (the only cars with diesels in those days were taxi's).
I used evo stik on the V8 - glued into the rocker cover, left to dry half an hour or so then light smear of glue on gasket and engine mating surface and stick it on the engine. Just nipped the bolts up.
On the ford steel covers if the flanges are all over the place try to tap them flat with the edge on a vice jaw or something that's fairly substantial, straight and flat.
On the ford steel covers if the flanges are all over the place try to tap them flat with the edge on a vice jaw or something that's fairly substantial, straight and flat.
wizzer said:
As usual great advice, thanks for all your help. Just off down to the Ford dealer in Christchurch to order the proper Ford gaskets, like the idea of the metalpins to stop over compression.
Just a word of warning, still be careful to only torque down to the correct level (can't remember what it is from memory, sorry but its in Steve Heaths 'bible') as when I removed my old rocker covers there was evidence of massive previous over torque because the pins had left dents in the thin pressed steel covers 
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