Cam Cover Sealant - Permabond A136

[billybaloneey]

Jerry,

I noticed that you've added another new product...Permabond A136.

I don't have an immediate need for it, but wanted to add it to my stash of stuff for when I get around to re-building my spare '94 LT5:

1) do you think the 50ml bottle will do a complete engine...not just the cam covers?
2) I think the book calls for about 3-4 different types of assembly adhesives...is A136 a suitable alternative for all of them?
3) do you happen to know the shelf life of the product?

This stuff is virtually impossible to find at reasonable prices & usable quantities (single engine projects)...thanks for locating it and making it available.

Thanks for continuing to be an affordable alternative for LT5 parts/products.

[A26B]

Originally Posted by billybaloneey

1) do you think the 50ml bottle will do a complete engine...not just the cam covers?

Yes, it should be plenty. Just don't apply excessive amounts that end up being squeezed out anyway.

2) I think the book calls for about 3-4 different types of assembly adhesives...is A136 a suitable alternative for all of them?

According to the service manual, there are only 2 applications for A136, Cam Cover/Cyl Head joint and Cyl Case/Crankcase joint. I also recommend the o.d. of the front cover dampner seal joint. This seal is not a real tight fit anyway and it will help to hold it in place. The other use is around the cam shaft bore plugs on the ends of the cylinder heads.

3) do you happen to know the shelf life of the product?

Recommended shelf life is 1 year. That's on the safe side.

This stuff is virtually impossible to find at reasonable prices & usable quantities (single engine projects)...thanks for locating it and making it available.

I've worked on it off & on over the last couple of years and encountered the same difficulty you've experienced. Finally made contact with someone who cared about the little people, only to find out when placing the order that A136 was recently discontinued. With a little prompting, Permabond agreed to bring it back.

Thanks for continuing to be an affordable alternative for LT5 parts/products.

Truth is Clint, that guys like you make it possible. Without the support of the ZR-1 forum members, it's highly unlikely to have ever happened. Word of mouth with good referrals does the job. Karen & I both really enjoy JERRYS GASKETS. We always seem to keep the business broke developing new products and have 4 more in the wings.

[bdw18_123]

You can also use Loctite 518 as a substitute for Permabond A136. I'm going to use 518 on my LT5.

But it is nice to have the original A136 now available for those that want it.

[VetteMed]

I've used the Threebond 1194 that's used for jap motorcycle engine case/transaxle sealing. Seems to seal well, based on my admittedly little experience.

[A26B]

I think the very most important charateristic of the material used for cam cover sealant is "non-shimming effect". Choosing an anerobic sealant to keep oil from leaking is one thing, but not the most important. The journal bearings for the camshaft are machined directly into the cover & cyl head. If the sealant used has any shimming effect, it will open up the journal clearances and all manner of bad things could happen, none of them good.

Choose wisely grasshopper, it aint just about huckey -puck.

We offered Loctite 518 because it was about the only anerobic sealant besides Permabond A136 that had any real track record. We are going to discontinue offering Loctite 518 just as soon as the Permabond A136 is in stock. I know A136 works and works right.

[VetteMed]

Originally Posted by A26B

I think the very most important charateristic of the material used for cam cover sealant is "non-shimming effect". Choosing an anerobic sealant to keep oil from leaking is one thing, but not the most important. The journal bearings for the camshaft are machined directly into the cover & cyl head. If the sealant used has any shimming effect, it will open up the journal clearances and all manner of bad things could happen, none of them good.

Choose wisely grasshopper, it aint just about huckey -puck.

We offered Loctite 518 because it was about the only anerobic sealant besides Permabond A136 that had any real track record. We are going to discontinue offering Loctite 518 just as soon as the Permabond A136 is in stock. I know A136 works and works right.

Great info, Jerry. I know I had read somewhere (maybe even on this forum) that others had used the Threebond successfully. It goes on very thin, unlike an RTV sealant, so it seems like any shimming effect would be negligible. Maybe next teardown I'll reconsider, or not

[Mystic ZR-1]

What's the shelf life on an opened bottle of A136?