Hi Ken,

My car is a 1980 with K-jet fuel injection, and as such has no MAF. I think that if I had EFI (L-Jet or LH-Jetronic) that my issue might be much easier for me to diagnose. I have a lot more experience with that...

As far as your valve cover gasket issue, when I replaced mine, I simply cleaned the head surface and the cover surface until there were no remnants of gasket or sealer. I used a few small dabs of clear RTV on the valve cover side simply to hold the gasket in place while I put the bolts in and tightened them down appropriately. On my B21 engine, there is a semi-circular plug but it is in the rear of the head near the firewall, not in the front. My valve cover gasket came with said plug. When I installed it, it leaked oil badly. I had to remove the valve cover, pull the semi-circle plug, thoroughly clean it (and the recess for it in the head and the valve cover) off, and smear clear RTV all around the circumference of the plug, and reinstall it. I let it dry for 5-6 hours before starting the car to that the oil didn't infiltrate the RTV and prohibit it from setting properly. That's my experience with valve cover gaskets on the Volvo. Not sure what year or engine you have, your car might have a plug in the front of the head...

billy242