DWS964

Simple question
my valve adjust kit 964.105.902.00 came with regular nuts instead of nylok nuts as on the car. Should I use these?

ChaseN

I used the regular nuts out of that kit when I adjusted my valves. 9k mile later no leaks - just make sure and torque them to the correct spec (7 ftlbs according to my workshop manual)

DWS964

Thanks
how long should the cheater bar be on my 1/2" ratchet to give 7 ft-lbs???

ChaseN

Quit doin it the hard way - break out the impact

Oracle

I suggest you don't use them, the reason being is there is no enough torque or serrated washer to keep them in place. They're nylok so they deform and won't back out..
All the sets from a reputable place will always have them with nylok. The nuts are a one time only use.

ChaseN

Very good point, though IIRC I got my parts from Porsche and they definitely weren't nylock, and I've had no problems. I don't even remember the nuts on there being nylock either, as I probably would have been worried about the new ones. I guess in any case they would be extra insurance.

Just as an aside, I think every car I've ever worked on used just standard (i.e. non-locking) nuts for the valve cover. What makes the 964 different? Probably a silly question, I know.

Oracle

I remember another benefit of the nylok is they seal better.
I have bought about 8 sets from Pelican and have always come with nylok, in the Porsche book from Wayne Dempsey it mention exactly this.

What's so different? The cover is holding the oil inside, opposed to the regular v8//v6 the valve covers are at the top and just hold the vapours.

DWS964

Yup, my set is a "quality" Porsche part number. I feel safer with the nylok nuts, however.

elbeee964

Reimbursed for a fistful of nyloc's, here, when the Pelican package arrived w/ plain nuts.

(A free-spinning nut held on by just 7 in-lbs of torque *and* the compliance of a rubber gasket - a gasket already bottomed-out by adjacent brother nuts? No thank you, 'factory' parts package.)

Nylocs: cheap insurance.

springer3

Possibly, but the leaks seldom happen near the stud where the clamping pressure is greatest. Also, oil against the nylon ring will easily escape at the bottom of the nut.

In my experience, valve cover leaks are caused by mechanics who distort the cover by over-torquing the nuts. Corrosion of the seal groove can also cause it to leak.

I agree free-spinning nuts are not optimal, but nylok nuts are not the only anti-rotation nut. The ones I have used are "constant torque" nuts that have a small deformation in the top thread to prevent easy rotation. Those are fine as well, and tolerate re-use much better than nylok.

Arrowhead

I did a recent valve adjustment and of course valve cover gaskets. Prior to that I could see oil weeping out of the threads between the stud and nut. This told me that the valve cover gasket was leaking around the inside gasket surrounding the stud. I went to the hardware store and bought nylock nuts because I thought they could'nt hurt.

RichieRoo

I just picked up my kit direct from Porsche this week. Seeing your discussion, I broke the seal and took a peek - I can confirm Porsche supply standard/ non locking nuts.

DWS964

I picked up a bag of 50 steel locking nuts (per Springer3's suggestion) from the fastener shop today for $7, and a 1/4" torque wrench, to finish the job.

Springer - are you the "nut and bolt" guru here on RL? Where is a good source for buying a bulk supply (boxes of 100...) of fasteners to supply my shop?
Does anyone have a list of suggested common fasteners - nuts, bolts, washers, screws,... for our favorite car?

springer3

If I am all you have you are in tough shape. I prefer to say this is one area of "less ignorance". Sorry - I do not have the inside scoup on where Porsche buys fasteners. RIBE is a great company and one I do business with in a non-nut application (take that anyway you like). "KX" (Karl Marx) is the other common German brand. The German car companies all buy Asian fasteners to force their in-country manufacturers to lower prices.