Rover 3500 valley gasket

[keith w]

So today I took my Grinnall for rolling road tuning only to be thwarted by a valley gasket leaking air and a slightly oily number 2 plug which might be down to the same problem, fingers crossed The gasket was new when fitted but I suppose I messed it up. 

Where should I buy a new gasket to be sure of good quality?

Any tips on fitting it? I've always been uncomfortable fitting a flat piece of tin into a V shaped valley.

 

I've previously used Blue Hylomar sealant. Is this a good idea or should it fit dry?

 

Thanks in antici..........pation

 

Keith

 

 

 

[jerrytr5]

I'm no expert on V8's but the valley gasket needs something a bit thicker than hylomar particularly at each end otherwise it will seep oil.

Try Threebond.

Jerry

[TR8IAN]

 

Hi Keith 

 

I've used these people for lots of different gaskets over the years - always helpful.

Don't forget to buy the two rubber end gaskets and add a little sealer to the ends of these.

 

Cheers

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/316765107440?_skw=rover+v8+valley+gasket&itmmeta=01JXFX295BJB450EMEME1NK265&hash=item49c0abf4f0:g:WJsAAMXQ-BZQ~nI8

[greasemonkey]

Hi Ian, I need to sort out one of the tappets so the gasket will have to come off.

Thanks for the sourcing recommendation.

What sealant, if any do you use??

I tend to use Wellseal on most gaskets - is it too thin though??

Cheers

Phil

 

 

[Motorsport Mickey]

Unless you know it’s past history regarding head skims etc you may find the steel valley gasket doesn’t fit as well as you want. Reduced head thicknesses from skimming shrinks the heads into the valley in the V. When racing and running high compressions the steel gaskets could develop a “ buckle” as I scrunched the gasket into the valley when bolting inlet manifold onto the heads. I sorted it out by cutting a new gasket down it’s length in the centre and tin snipping about 6mm down the length, (3mm a side) and then gas welding the gasket together again. Used the cut off gasket to experiment on gas pressures and flows to get the correct mix fo the welds.

Gasket to head and inlet manifold faces used Wellseal, and Blue Hylomar both sides of the valley rubber gaskets at both ends. Eventually after 2 years with no leaks I resorted to buying the same gaskets pre folded down the length, back onto itself along the centre of the valley to lose the width, from John Eales at JE Engineering  at Coventry, same Wellseal and Blue Hylomar sealing regime.

 

 

 

Edited June 23 by Motorsport Mickey

[greasemonkey]

That's useful to know, thanks Mickey.

I can't find a reference to John Earle, Google-wise. Could you elaborate? Contact details ???

Cheers, Phil.

[Phil Horsley]

5 hours ago, Motorsport Mickey said:

Unless you know it’s past history regarding head skims etc you may find the steel valley gasket doesn’t fit as well as you want. Reduced head thicknesses from skimming shrinks the heads into the valley in the V. When racing and running high compressions the steel gaskets could develop a “ buckle” as I scrunched the gasket into the valley when bolting inlet manifold onto the heads. I sorted it out by cutting a new gasket down it’s length and tin snipping about 6mm down the length, (3mm a side) and then gas welding the gasket together again. Used the cut off gasket to experiment on gas pressures and flows to get the correct mix fo the welds.

Gasket to head and inlet manifold faces used Wellseal, and Blue Hylomar both sides of the valley rubber gaskets at both ends. Eventually after 2 years with no leaks I resorted to buying the same gaskets pre folded down the length, back onto itself along the valley to lose the width, from John Earle’s at Coventry, same Wellseal and Blue Hylomar sealing regime.

 

 

 

 

IMG_1745.mov

Do you mean John Eales of JE Engineering?

[Motorsport Mickey]

Hi Phil,

Yes, the curse of auto spell again. John Eales in Coventry at JE Engineering. He used to do lots of Rover V8 tuning gear due to his Dakar rally involvement’s.

Mick Richards

[Motorsport Mickey]

9 hours ago, greasemonkey said:

That's useful to know, thanks Mickey.

I can't find a reference to John Earle, Google-wise. Could you elaborate? Contact details ???

Cheers, Phil.

Yes Phil, as per my reply to the other Phil above, John Eales in Coventry at JE Engineering. I last spoke with John about 1991 so any information I had is long gone now. Nothing very technical about the mod to the gasket, just the ability to weld very thin gauge steel, gas welding lends itself to it, if you can move your hand in to increase the heat and then back out again as the pool forms before you blow a hole in it. Otherwise the ability to fold the gasket down the centre first at 180  deg, and then fold the folded half gasket down the fold line to 180 at 3mm from the folded edge will remove 6 mm from the gasket centre. You can dress the folded material a little with hammer on a flat edge or clamp in a vice to continue squeezing the folded half gasket as flat as you can down the 6mm fold without deforming it. The only weep area will likely be folded edge and a little silicone wiped in there sorts it at either end.

Mick Richards

[TR8IAN]

There are better gaskets available for the rocker covers than the old cork jobs:

[greasemonkey]

JE seems to have stopped trading Micky.

Phil.

[Phil Horsley]

According to Companies Hoise they are still trading at that address 

[Phil Horsley]

On 6/23/2025 at 1:22 AM, Motorsport Mickey said:

Hi Phil,

Yes, the curse of auto spell again. John Eales in Coventry at JE Engineering. He used to do lots of Rover V8 tuning gear due to his Dakar rally involvement’s.

Mick Richards

Both of my Rounded style Grinnall have his engines, one being one of the spares for Paris Dakar 😉

[acaie]

On 6/23/2025 at 7:31 PM, greasemonkey said:

JE seems to have stopped trading Micky.

Phil.

I spoke to them on the phone about 6 weeks ago. There was every indication that they were up and running normally.