Valve Cover Woes...Need Help!
08-31-2010, 03:18 PM
#1
Valve Cover Woes...Need Help! All-
I have Canton valve covers on my LT1, AFR heads, 1.6 rockers. Both of them leaked upon initial installation (used fel-pro multilayer cork) so I removed them both and used right-stuff to seal them up. I thought they were good until...dyno day.
Dripping oil while on the dyno, right from the back outside corner on the driver's side. I figured, no big deal, i'll fix it when I get home. So, I pulled the cover and separated the cork layers while I was at it. I went and got rubber gaskets, used right stuff on both sides of the gasket, and STILL LEAKING. This time, oil is dripping directly onto my header collector, causing FIRE.
So, I'm sick of this BS. I've installed them every which way possible, torqued them properly and in the right order, not torqued them at all (just went tight) and every other option you can think of. I'm in the middle of getting a return authorization for them.
Anyone have suggestions for other valve covers? Anything that doesn't leak without failure? I'm considering C4 vette valve covers, as they already clear 1.6 rockers without modification, and have a more favorable fastener setup than stock valve covers (studs in heads for good alignment).
Please help me out! This is the only thing keeping me from driving my car. I haven't gotten to drive it at all since it was tuned, and it's putting down 650 RWHP. Thanks
I have Canton valve covers on my LT1, AFR heads, 1.6 rockers. Both of them leaked upon initial installation (used fel-pro multilayer cork) so I removed them both and used right-stuff to seal them up. I thought they were good until...dyno day.
Dripping oil while on the dyno, right from the back outside corner on the driver's side. I figured, no big deal, i'll fix it when I get home. So, I pulled the cover and separated the cork layers while I was at it. I went and got rubber gaskets, used right stuff on both sides of the gasket, and STILL LEAKING. This time, oil is dripping directly onto my header collector, causing FIRE.
So, I'm sick of this BS. I've installed them every which way possible, torqued them properly and in the right order, not torqued them at all (just went tight) and every other option you can think of. I'm in the middle of getting a return authorization for them.
Anyone have suggestions for other valve covers? Anything that doesn't leak without failure? I'm considering C4 vette valve covers, as they already clear 1.6 rockers without modification, and have a more favorable fastener setup than stock valve covers (studs in heads for good alignment).
Please help me out! This is the only thing keeping me from driving my car. I haven't gotten to drive it at all since it was tuned, and it's putting down 650 RWHP. Thanks
08-31-2010, 03:29 PM
#2
All-
I have Canton valve covers on my LT1, AFR heads, 1.6 rockers. Both of them leaked upon initial installation (used fel-pro multilayer cork) so I removed them both and used right-stuff to seal them up. I thought they were good until...dyno day.
Dripping oil while on the dyno, right from the back outside corner on the driver's side. I figured, no big deal, i'll fix it when I get home. So, I pulled the cover and separated the cork layers while I was at it. I went and got rubber gaskets, used right stuff on both sides of the gasket, and STILL LEAKING. This time, oil is dripping directly onto my header collector, causing FIRE.
So, I'm sick of this BS. I've installed them every which way possible, torqued them properly and in the right order, not torqued them at all (just went tight) and every other option you can think of. I'm in the middle of getting a return authorization for them.
Anyone have suggestions for other valve covers? Anything that doesn't leak without failure? I'm considering C4 vette valve covers, as they already clear 1.6 rockers without modification, and have a more favorable fastener setup than stock valve covers (studs in heads for good alignment).
Please help me out! This is the only thing keeping me from driving my car. I haven't gotten to drive it at all since it was tuned, and it's putting down 650 RWHP. Thanks
I have Canton valve covers on my LT1, AFR heads, 1.6 rockers. Both of them leaked upon initial installation (used fel-pro multilayer cork) so I removed them both and used right-stuff to seal them up. I thought they were good until...dyno day.
Dripping oil while on the dyno, right from the back outside corner on the driver's side. I figured, no big deal, i'll fix it when I get home. So, I pulled the cover and separated the cork layers while I was at it. I went and got rubber gaskets, used right stuff on both sides of the gasket, and STILL LEAKING. This time, oil is dripping directly onto my header collector, causing FIRE.
So, I'm sick of this BS. I've installed them every which way possible, torqued them properly and in the right order, not torqued them at all (just went tight) and every other option you can think of. I'm in the middle of getting a return authorization for them.
Anyone have suggestions for other valve covers? Anything that doesn't leak without failure? I'm considering C4 vette valve covers, as they already clear 1.6 rockers without modification, and have a more favorable fastener setup than stock valve covers (studs in heads for good alignment).
Please help me out! This is the only thing keeping me from driving my car. I haven't gotten to drive it at all since it was tuned, and it's putting down 650 RWHP. Thanks
Seriously... I'd check them for flatness and holes maybe?
08-31-2010, 03:48 PM
#5
This essentially amounts to checking them (and more) but maybe get a machine shop to get them flat?
IDK though, hopefully someone has a good idea.
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08-31-2010, 04:46 PM
#10
I can't do perimeter bolt, because I'm using the stock alternator location, and retained my A/C.
I don't have anything on my valve covers...a breather and fill cap on the passenger's side, nothing on the driver's side.
08-31-2010, 06:49 PM
#13
I'm looking for the blue fel-pro rubber/steel gaskets. Is the part number VS 50088R?
08-31-2010, 07:52 PM
#14
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Around the corners of the Valvecover rail ON THE HEAD, my set of AFRs was very thick here and actually interfered with the valvecover, I set a gasket on it and trimmed the head using the gasket as a template , I also blended it down to match the rest of the side of the head.
When i first bought these heads I just slapped the valvecovers on and assumed all was good, but my block was allways wet around the back and on the rear sides with oil. When i had the engine on an engine stand is when i noticed that the valve covers where not all the way down flush.
When i first bought these heads I just slapped the valvecovers on and assumed all was good, but my block was allways wet around the back and on the rear sides with oil. When i had the engine on an engine stand is when i noticed that the valve covers where not all the way down flush.
08-31-2010, 08:29 PM
#15
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I run 141-131 Proforms, tall - black. 141-130 for polished. They fit good and are GM licenced. I have reused the plain ol rubber gasket 4 or 5 times. This is on the stock LT1 head. There is "minimal grinding" on the alt to make them fit. Takes all of 15 minutes.
09-02-2010, 10:38 AM
#16
EDIT: My bad. I was searching for the wrong proform valve covers. Those look almost identical to the Vette composite covers (in design). Do you have any pics or description on where to clearance the alternator, and how much? Throwing a bunch of metal shavings/dust around a device with vents and big magnets in it doesn't sound very intelligent.
Last edited by qc97z; 09-02-2010 at 12:47 PM.
09-02-2010, 10:43 AM
#17
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Lets see what these covers you fighting with look like? I like to use Indian head on the valve cover side of old school stuff to keep it from leaking. You normally don't get a leak on the head side of the gasket as its a machined surface and totally flat most oil leaks from on top the gasket
09-02-2010, 10:51 AM
#18
Lets see what these covers you fighting with look like? I like to use Indian head on the valve cover side of old school stuff to keep it from leaking. You normally don't get a leak on the head side of the gasket as its a machined surface and totally flat most oil leaks from on top the gasket
09-02-2010, 12:35 PM
#20
Thanks for the ideas, but I know the valve covers I have are having problems. I've tried 2 different gaskets, several different ways to install them, right stuff compund, etc.
I know my driver's side valve cover is having issues. There's several folks out there with Canton valve cover leak issues, and several folks that don't. It's the nature of the manufacturing process; there's not enough consistency to be confident that the process is in control. They came to me with several grinding marks on the rails, so i know they're flattening out high spots manually, probably causing low spots by doing so. The only right thing to do in their case is to jig up every valve cover and run through a CNC mill to ensure flatness.
Plus, I called Canton the other day, and they are more than happy to authorize a return for a full refund for them. I told them that they leak, and it was the only thing preventing me from driving the car after it had just been dyno'd. That's a pretty clear indication that they know they have leaking issues.
I know my driver's side valve cover is having issues. There's several folks out there with Canton valve cover leak issues, and several folks that don't. It's the nature of the manufacturing process; there's not enough consistency to be confident that the process is in control. They came to me with several grinding marks on the rails, so i know they're flattening out high spots manually, probably causing low spots by doing so. The only right thing to do in their case is to jig up every valve cover and run through a CNC mill to ensure flatness.
Plus, I called Canton the other day, and they are more than happy to authorize a return for a full refund for them. I told them that they leak, and it was the only thing preventing me from driving the car after it had just been dyno'd. That's a pretty clear indication that they know they have leaking issues.