head gasket question

[DropTop240]

i want to paint the valve cover of my ka24de and i was told when i take the valve cover off i should always replace the head gasket wether it needs to be replaced or not...i understand why this is true but is there a way around that, cuz im impacient....if not how much would a new head gasket run me???

[480sx]

Your a little confused, when you take the valve cover gasket off the only thing that your going to see is the cams. There is a gasket there, but its a valve cover gasket. Its a rubber piece, pretty simple stuff.

The head gasket is what seals your head to your block. You have to take off the cams, head bolts, timing chain, ect to get at that.

Ontop of that, you really dont need to replace the valve cover gasket if its not worn or old. Just clean up the mating surfaces, and add some RTV sealant at each of the 'camshaft plugs'(they are on the gasket itself, little half circle things, 4 of them, two on either end) when you put it back together. It helps to torque the valve cover down evenly and use the pattern in the FSM to insure a good, leak free seal.

[DropTop240]

oh ok thnx thats good to kno......i had a feeling it wasnt a head gasket but for some reason nothing else was registering at the time...