'89 SHO Need Spark Plug Well Seals ASAP

[DeepPower]

My mechanic is presently on a search-and-destroy mission to replace the original coolant hoses on my '89 SHO. Many of the hoses have rubber that is of the consistency of Hostess Twinkies. It's taking longer that he thought so he's holding my SHO over to finish tomorrow (Tuesday) and giving me a discount for the inconvenience.

As he has the intake manifold off this is a perfect time for him to replace the spark plug well seals. But where can I find these seals by tomorrow April 7? Autozone? NAPA? Looked, can't find them. FedEx from California to my mechanic? Any ideas?

 

[luigisho]

call around to all the parts stores and ask. Some can get them next day from another store or shipped in from a warehouse depending on how close they are. Tough to get a 1 day turnaround. work the phones right now

http://www.autozone.com/gaskets/valve-cover-gasket/ford/taurus/1994/6-cylinders-y-3-0l-efi-dohc-sho

 

[DeepPower]

Thanks. Hey, here's a thought, can the present seals be reused with the appropriate gasket sealant?

 

[TimboSHO]

Thanks. Hey, here's a thought, can the present seals be reused with the appropriate gasket sealant?

It's a temporary fix, depending on the condition of the seal you are trying to reuse. If the seals are oil soaked, no amount of sealant will help reseal them.

 

[Off Road SHO]

Yes they can as a temp fix. Clean all the oil residue off the old ones and the heads with paint thinner or acetone. Apply a thin coat of quality RTV sealant to the bottom of each old seal. They will be stuck to the valve covers, DO NOT REMOVE them from the valve covers if they are stuck, just clean in place and add the RTV, smooth it out and let harden up. No need to "glue" the valve cover to the head using the well seals, you just want to make the seal thicker, that's all.

Tom

 

[SHOdded]

At one time, sdpatt recommended Permatex Ultra Grey silicone on BOTH sides of the old plug well seals to help prevent future leaks.

 

[rubydist]

if they are stuck to the valve cover, you don't want to risk breaking them by removing them, and as we have discussed in another thread recently the place they leak is between the head and the seal, not between the cover and the seal, so Tom's advice is (as usual) the best.

 

[DeepPower]

Luckily they found a set locally for $142. Thanks for everyone's help!

 

[SHOdded]

Yikes, that's pricey! Good luck tho

 

[Off Road SHO]

That is probably the cam seals and front timing cover seals also. I think I paid 42.00 for my last set of just plug well seals. Good luck.

Tom

 

[SHOdded]

Valve cover & plug well seals are around $70 currently, so there must be more, OR the mechanic located OEM parts ...

 

[DeepPower]

It was for everything, all seals and gaskets, Fel-Pro gaskets. I searched myself and could not find the gaskets in the area from any auto parts store within 20 miles ("it's not a part we stock"). They ended up getting them from a shop 35 miles away. I trust these guys so I'm guessing it cost them to get them over here the same day.

 

[SHOdded]

Parts are getting harder to find for sure!