First of all, I'm new here but have browsed threads here recently and picked up some very helpful tricks and tips pertaining to my recent cylinder head gasket replacement on an 89 740 gl, 4cyl non turbo, SOHC, b230f motor, casting # 1000531. Anyway, the valve cover gasket contained in the head set was incorrect, oversized and flat and without the scoops at each end. Went back to the parts store and we spent almost an hour trying to cross-reference it with other models and years to no avail. Every time we try to look up just the gasket alone, it always leads to the same incorrect gasket. Could someone tell me where i'm going wrong, or lead me to this holy grail of valve cover gaskets? Thanks for reading.

 

Your car has a Volvo Penta cylinder head. The 531 is a boat engine head. The 530 is what originally came with your engine. Somewhere along the line someone decided to replace the head. The 531 has marginally better flow stock than the 530 although ported and polished it is significantly better. Not sure there's any noticible improvement on a stock n/a motor. Stop looking up the gasket as a 740 engine gasket and tell them you need one for a B230F Penta motor.

 

Thanks for the info. Very fascinating. Do you you know if the head gasket for the 530 will properly mate with the 531. Perhaps this is what created the problem with water in the oil in the first place. I have already installed the head gasket yesterday. Thanks.

 

head gaskets are the same. you're safe there! actually, the 531 was used in Europe in some cars but stateside mostly just boats.

 

r u talking about the head gasket or the valve cover gasket??

 

Originally, the valve cover gasket. But after learning that I have a head popular on marine applications. I started to doubt if the head gasket was the correct one.