I'm knee deep right now in a Timing chain replacement on my 84. I have to work outside so for now none of the covers have been left off, although yesterday I did peek under the valve cover to see that the left side guide had certainly gone missing. Anyways, I've got all the accessories removed, I've got the oil and water drained and the radiator removed too. All my parts have arrived but I didn't see a gasket for the valve cover in my parts box. Also the same applies for the oil pan gasket.

What kind of materials should I use to seal it all back up? I have paper gaskets for things like the timing cover, water pump.. Should I apply something to the paper gaskets?

I know I need to use some kind of sealing agent, but being as I've never done this, I want to get it right so I don't have to dig in again to fix a stupid oil or water leak.

 

i always use the GREY rtv (or locktie brand now) sealant on any gaskets i install. the trick is to MAKE SURE there is NO GREASE, OIL, OR CRUD on the mating surfaces. for ex. valve cover- use Qtip and clean out recessed gasket slot on the cover with solvent. then clean where it meats the head. put it in the recess and on the head surfaces.
the VC gasket is a rubber one and it has 2 thick rubber "plugs" that go at the end of the camshafts in the head.

the oil pan gasket is made of cork.

be sure to clean the surfaces.

 

You should have got a new rubber valve cover gasket along with 2 new half moon plugs for the head. Use RTV to seal up the oil pan; the cork gaskets are junk.

I didn't use sealant on any gaskets that are around coolant (example: water pump). I just used them dry.

Rob