I was just checking to see if my valve covers were leaking, as I had just changed the gaskets. I was happy to see they were not, but that there were slight buldges on the side of the covers. Only on the front cover's side closest to the front of the car. I couldn't see the rear clear enough at the time.

My question is, can I re-torque the screws? If so, to what ft/lbs. and when I loosen it, will it ruin the seal, if it has been over-torqued?

I'm very nervous about something happeneing if I do touch it, or if I don't. What should I do?

As always, thank you.

EDIT - Now that I'm thinking about it, when I was cleaning my valve covers with a razor blade (heavily oil covered) I remember having to scrap it at odd angles. Are the sides of the valve covers 100% straight, or are there bends to them? Because the "buldges" I'm looking at look symmetrical. (And the plastic would snap, before it would bend, I would think...) Anyway, as you can tell its got me worried. Hopefully someone shall ease my mind.

Hello,

If your covers are bulging, I wouldn't mess with them.
If it were myself, I would keep an eye on them. If they start to leak again, look for some new covers and gaskets. Replace at that time.
They may not leak..... Ever..... As long as the gasket is seated, and not disturbed.

When tightening down the Valve Cover, keep in mind that it is plastic, and the gasket is a soft rubber..... Just a bit past snug is tight enough. And with anything else like that, you can always go back the next day after running it and snug them down again.

Subject change, kinda -- Is there a place that sells valve covers with GTP stamped on them...
I saw the gto with there's stamped on and got to wandering about our cars. I dids some looking and came up empty.......I think it would be cool to have our valve covers with GTP on them...

None that I know of. I've seen people fill em in and paint designs on em though.

I painted mine Aluminum color when I had them off...

Bryan - The gasket is re-usable. YES you canm re-torque them and YES there are already buldges

NOTE - Our valve covers are NOT plastic, as they are fiberglass. I found it odd, but I found that out when I was sanding them, prepping them to paint..