oh great

i replaced the valve cover gasket on my 87 auto last week and today i lift the hood and realize it has blown out at the front cam tower i used a rubber gasket from the auto parts store. what jappened? help don't want to go through all that trouble again for to only last a week

I had the same thing. Use a ford gasket F57Z-6584-A. I think it's for a ranger. It has the metal inserts in the bolt holes.

That's common because that cam tower is a royal PITA. The metal inserts won't help you in that department, but I also recommend that gasket because it prevents over-tightening.

I ONLY had to do mine twice. Got it right the second time. A little RTV and some patience. mine kind of squeezed out from under the valve cover the first time. The second time I keep a better eye on that slippery little bugger and it stayed where it was supposed to when I tightened it.
HTH

Good Luck
Mike C.

The cam tower is tricky for gasket placement, like Mike and Gary said. Go slow and drop the cover straight down.

I just did and re-did the same thing with the rubber Felpro gasket. First time I didn't notice it move when I put the cover back on (back of engine). Then I did end up over tightening it (metal grommets were stuck in the holes of the valve cover and the gasket was split everywhere). Replaced with new Felpro and like was said above paid extra attention to the gasket. The box said not to use any silicone at all.
This gasket has a rubber "plug" that helps hold it in place on the cam tower. Been on for a month now and no leaks.

i had all kinds of problems with the gaskets finally took my spare vc and used black rtv and covered the whole surface and put the gasket on and let it sit for about a day or two so it was sealed and then i put it on the car and had no problems at all went on like a glove and have had no leaks for about 3 months now

i used the fel pro rubber one, and ya it has a tab that locates it in a hole on the cam tower, and yet it still blew out, and now a bunch of expensive mobil 1 synthetic is all over the side of the engine.... my question is,is. could boost have made it's way into the valve cover? cause when i say that it came out i mean it looks like it pushed out and the cam pulley ripped it to shreds. and if boost did make it into the VC how? and how do i fix it?

Tried the aftermarket crap, NFG. The OEM Ford Ranger gasket was recommended by MP in NJ. Works like a champ, 1st time out of the box. Ford part # F57Z 6584 A