Have slight leak from doing valve cover gasket on my 740 turbo. It's at the front. I didn't clean out the old silicone and apply new. I didn't/don't know how much silicone to use and where? It looks like there was some around the camshaft "humps" front and back. Do I need to let it dry before I put it back together? Can I put some on the gasket on both sides from front to back? Also, should I put the gasket on the head or the valve cover at first?

Thanks!!!!!

 

Clean all the old silicone off...it's imperative. The only place you need silicone is on the front hump. Clean the surface of the head, I use carb cleaner or brake cleaner on a rag. Starting at the nearly 90 degree corner where the hump begins, lay a small bead on the entire radius. Place the gasket over the head studs and press it down in front, wipe off excess. Lay another small bead on top of the gasket on the cam hump only...the rest of the flat portion needs no silicone at all. Although torque values aren't horribly important on a valve cover, after you run the acorn nuts down finger tight, I always go around from corner to diagonal corner then basically go opposite diagonals around the cover the way one does a cylinder head. The finally snugging down I just go in a circle. BTW, don't feel dumb...few folks do a red block vc gasket right the first time. It takes a couple of times to get the knack...a lot like replacing a water pump without cutting a water pipe seal. Good luck