Never done this before.

Anything important i should know about?

Cheers, guys. een.

Yep, make sure its sitting correctly. Thats about all.

Dicko.

It's a pretty easy job, just make sure you get it aligned with the rocker cover properly before you tighten it down. Depending on what rocker cover you've got, you may have some tabs which help align the gasket. I've fitted gaskets which looked right but leaked oil all down the back of the block.

The other common mistake is that it doesn't need much torque on the cover bolts -- just enough to grip the cork gasket and form a seal. If you overdo it, you chew up the rubber grommets which seal the bolts in the cover.

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Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

Yeah. That's already happened. Gotta get some new rubbers, too.

Do i need to oil the gasket like when you put in a new oil filter?

Nope. The reason you do that with the oil filter is because you're spinning the seal against its seat, and the oil helps avoid damaging the seal. In this case, you're just gripping the gasket with the rocker cover, so it doesn't need lube.

Thinking about it, it's best to avoid oiling the gasket anyway, so you can more quickly spot a leak when you fire her up.

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Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

True. Thanx.

So do i attach it to the cover and THEN fit the cover to the block or the other way around?

probably easier if you attach the cover to the head

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busier than a 0ne legged man in a butt kicking competion

Al speaks the truth

I always used to align the gasket on the cover, and very carefully lower it down into place. My cover is the pressed metal type, and has locating tabs for the gasket which only just hold the gasket against gravity -- it would fall off the cover very easily.

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Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

Ok! Cheers, guys! Fingers crossed i'll do it right.

Dont over tighten the bolts and crush the gasket

My trick...
Glue the rocker cover gasket to the rocker cover with Kwik-Grip.
Paint the other side of the gasket with Permatex No3.

No leaks and you can easliy remove the cover to check the rocker clearances.

In the olden days...when you got new very old stock cork gaskets...we used to soak them in water overnight...made them more pliable and easy to fit...I like Morris1100s approach though

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"Show me the Mini!"

Yes.
You will more than likely get your hands dirty. This is normal. You're going to want to keep a lot of baby wipes nearby. Personally I prefer diesel or just a grubby rag, but I think with all the jumping around and the "ewww's", the wipes will be better to you.
If you can con someone with more experience than you in this field into watching or helping that would be advised. Your girlfriend would be ideal.

Now, getting the rocker screws off. These could be on quite tight. Possibly upto 15 Nm.
You may wish to use a spanner and breaker bar, or a big ratchet. Be careful with the ratchet though, it could be heavy.

Everyone elses tips should see you through the rest.

I would permatex the gasket on both sides - or at least on the head side. Helps seal against oil leaks caused by the rough casting surface of the head.

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Dave K.
1979 Moke Californian + 1981 'Coke' Moke

Thanx, Harley.