Things don’t last forever

[Eg.h2o]

My plastic valve cover no longer provided adequate uniform gasket torque. Hey the plastic cover worked for almost 20 years. I can’t complain. Choices were either a new plastic one, or aftermarket aluminum. I chose aluminum because the heat expansion will match the head. It also uses a different wider gasket that will hopefully last a long time.

[Daox]

Looks good!

Where was the old one leaking?

[Eg.h2o]

Looks good!

Where was the old one leaking?

Perpetual spark plug tube leak in number 4 plug hole, and the center rear of the cover towards the intake would always weep.
500 miles so far and it’s absolutely dry.
I couldn’t be any more happy with this purchase.

no more self lubricating chassis.

[Nullen_Void]

Did you get that from ebay? I've been looking at one like it. Did stock bolts work or did you have to get longer bolts?

[Eg.h2o]

This particular one is for 2004-2005 only. I’ve only seen them for sale on AliExpress and eBay. It uses the original bolts, and the gasket is much wider for better sealing but the gasket is special to the aluminum cover and not available easily as a separate purchase locally. I bought a couple spare gaskets to have readily on hand if needed from AliExpress for the low low price of $4 each.
This is where I got mine:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Aluminium-E...-127632-2357-0

US $3.92 39％ Off | Aluminum Cover Valve Cover Gasket for Chevrolet- Aveo Aveo5 Pontiac- Daewoo Lanos Kalos Lacetti Nubira 96353002
https://star.aliexpress.com/share/sh...%3DsocialShare

[Nullen_Void]

Thanks for the info
I have a 2004 LS hatch back and was looking at that exact cover on ebay but couldn't find extra gaskets. Thanks for the link

Any tips on the install?

You Rock!
yeah I'm old but I still like telling people that rock that they in fact do actually ROCK

[Eg.h2o]

It’s an easy install. The only place that needs RTV is at the sides of both cam caps. This is done because they are mated machined parts.

[Brit01]

Nice! I did not know you could get aftermarket metal ones. Not too expensive either.

After 4 annoying gasket changes with oil leaking down the front and smelling when hot after a month of fitting, I finally decided to put black RTF all the way around instead of just around the half moon areas and no leaks now finally!! All dry after 3 months of driving in hot summer heat. Hope it lasts.

This was just with the standard black GM gasket, plastic original cover and black RTV. Just make sure surfaces are super super clean.

[LateOutDrsMn]

Thank you for posting this up. I have redone my valve cover gasket probably 4 times. And shortly after reading this thread, it started leaking for the 5th time. I ordered the new valve cover off eBay, and received it in less than 10 days. Pretty quick considering it came from china, and only cost $8 to ship.

[LateOutDrsMn]

In the box, you get the aluminium valve cover, (thoroughly covered in Styrofoam pieces) the thicker gasket, new Orings for bolts, new oil filler cap, (with a new cap gasket) and a new pvc valve.