LA series cast aluminum valve cover leaks
#3042420
05/15/22 01:31 AM
05/15/22 01:31 AM
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493 Granite Bay CA
Kern Dog
OP
Striving for excellence
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OP
Striving for excellence
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
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Yeah, I know....when these engines are built back to stock, everything fits and works as intended. Stamped steel valve covers, Iron intake, etc. When we deviate from stock, things start to get messy. Take for example, the popular cast aluminum valve covers that many of us like to use. Holley, M/T, Mopar Performance and others. Why is it that every one of them had the same exact problem? The gasket rail at the top hits the intake. You have to grind away part of the gasket rail to get enough clearance to allow the valve cover to sit down properly. This is some piss poor quality control. What was the point of the intake runners having those nubs or runners hanging into the space occupied by the valve covers anyway? I did a search here and found absolutely nothing about this.
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Re: LA series cast aluminum valve cover leaks
[Re: Kern Dog]
#3042422
05/15/22 01:38 AM
05/15/22 01:38 AM
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,757 Phila
PhillyRag
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,757
Phila
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This is some piss poor quality control. Well then it's been that way for many years then. Had that problem with M/T's many many years ago. 1 fix was to use thicker gaskets. Just part of working on these older cars. Can't expect 0% problems, now can we?
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Re: LA series cast aluminum valve cover leaks
[Re: PhillyRag]
#3042459
05/15/22 09:38 AM
05/15/22 09:38 AM
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Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 999 rust belt
Moparite
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 999
rust belt
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The gasket rail at the top hits the intake. I have used the M/T covers on both small and big blocks(with aftermarket intakes) and don't recall having this issue. But then it was many years ago. I had more problems with the breathers.
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Re: LA series cast aluminum valve cover leaks
[Re: Moparite]
#3042462
05/15/22 10:09 AM
05/15/22 10:09 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,651 San Jose,CA
migsBIG
YouTube is my go-to news source
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YouTube is my go-to news source
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,651
San Jose,CA
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Had the same problem wit Mopar Performance ones. Always leaked. To be honest, sometimes there can be other issues like intake clearances with aftermarket ones. Gaskets for those can be hit-n-miss to. When I put some one my next engine, I'll probably make my own cork gaskets and use some rtv and machine the lip on the covers so I won't have the same issues again.
Last edited by migsBIG; 05/20/22 09:32 PM.
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Re: LA series cast aluminum valve cover leaks
[Re: Kern Dog]
#3042482
05/15/22 11:55 AM
05/15/22 11:55 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,444 Omaha Ne
TJP
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,444
Omaha Ne
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A departed good friend once said they should just make one set of instructions for ALL aftermarket parts. 1. Take off the old sh-t 2. Bolt on the new sh-it 3. Turn the key and go Over the last 50 or so years I have found 4 exceptions that come to mind 1. Schumacher conversion mounts 2. Trim parts 3. RMS suspension 4. Legendary interiors
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Re: LA series cast aluminum valve cover leaks
[Re: moparx]
#3042499
05/15/22 01:05 PM
05/15/22 01:05 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,832 A collage of whims
topside
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,832
A collage of whims
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^^^ Exactly ! How can I expand my range of profanity without hot-rodding something ? The MP VC deal, their SB stroker pistons, etc ad nauseum were things I've posted or referenced here long ago. Countless others of course have had similar experiences. MP lost me as a customer somewhere around 2002.
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Re: LA series cast aluminum valve cover leaks
[Re: Kern Dog]
#3042565
05/15/22 05:46 PM
05/15/22 05:46 PM
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Joined: May 2019
Posts: 6,291 nowhere
Sniper
master
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master
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 6,291
nowhere
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I know that it is a small issue in the grand scheme of things. It just seems like a strange thing to have a problem with. There are things where if everyone was doing their job, the conflicts wouldn't exist. I could see if the heads were extensively milled, the valve cover gasket rail is lower and closer to the intake. I've seen this problem on old, unrebuilt engines. Even small port 273 and 318 intakes extend into the gasket surface. Why??? Because the factory didn't care about this as it was a non-issue for them and the aftermarket doesn't care because it's a YP not an MP (Your Problem, not My Problem). Probably one factory casting these things, just change the name on top as needed, and they do not care.
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Re: LA series cast aluminum valve cover leaks
[Re: Sniper]
#3042590
05/15/22 07:25 PM
05/15/22 07:25 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,647 in a cattle trailer down by th...
Guitar Jones
Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
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Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,647
in a cattle trailer down by th...
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Several decades ago when I was building one of my small block W5 race headed engines, I bought an MP 90° oil filter adapter. I pulled it out of the box at the parts counter and studied it for 5 minutes. The parts manager finally asked me what I was looking for. I told him I'm trying to determine what I will have to grind, file, machine or otherwise modify in order to get it to fit and work.
"Follow me the wise man said, but he walked behind"
'92 D250 Club Cab CTD, 47RH conversion, pump tweaks, injectors, rear disc and hydroboost conversion. '74 W200 Crew Cab 360, NV4500, D44, D60 and NP205 divorced transfer case. Rear disc and hydroboost conversion. 2019 1500 Long Horn Crew Cab 4WD, 5.7 Hemi.
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Re: LA series cast aluminum valve cover leaks
[Re: TJP]
#3042599
05/15/22 08:06 PM
05/15/22 08:06 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,605 Freeport IL USA
poorboy
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,605
Freeport IL USA
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A departed good friend once said they should just make one set of instructions for ALL aftermarket parts. 1. Take off the old sh-t 2. Bolt on the new sh-it 3. Turn the key and go Over the last 50 or so years I have found 4 exceptions that come to mind 1. Schumacher conversion mounts 2. Trim parts 3. RMS suspension 4. Legendary interiors I think my old buddy was probably a lot more accurate with his thoughts on almost every aftermarket parts. His went like this: 1) Take the old stuff off, save it, you might have to put it back on. 2) Test fit and modify the new stuff to fit like it was suppose to fit. 3) After modification, bolt it on, and hope it works. 4) Clean the mess up. Go drive it. Then keep the mess cleaned up. 5) If it doesn't work, you can put the old stuff back on, and sell the fancy junk at a swap meet!
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Re: LA series cast aluminum valve cover leaks
[Re: poorboy]
#3042634
05/15/22 10:29 PM
05/15/22 10:29 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,444 Omaha Ne
TJP
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,444
Omaha Ne
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A departed good friend once said they should just make one set of instructions for ALL aftermarket parts. 1. Take off the old sh-t 2. Bolt on the new sh-it 3. Turn the key and go Over the last 50 or so years I have found 4 exceptions that come to mind 1. Schumacher conversion mounts 2. Trim parts 3. RMS suspension 4. Legendary interiors I think my old buddy was probably a lot more accurate with his thoughts on almost every aftermarket parts. His went like this: 1) Take the old stuff off, save it, you might have to put it back on. 2) Test fit and modify the new stuff to fit like it was suppose to fit. 3) After modification, bolt it on, and hope it works. 4) Clean the mess up. Go drive it. Then keep the mess cleaned up. 5) If it doesn't work, you can put the old stuff back on, and sell the fancy junk at a swap meet! #1 wasn't gonna happen especially with a case of Bud light #2 Test fit, Now we're rocking, get me another Beer #3 Get me another beer #4 After 6 beers modifications looking good, Get me another beer #5 Bolt it on and admire your CRAFTMANSHIP AND INGENUITY while having another beer #6 Send the wife for more beer #7 If it doesn't work right, have another beer and force it #8 Have 2 more beers while digging through the trash and empty beer cans looking for the original. #9 HMM Looks better now, have another beer and throw the original in the swap meet pile. #10 have more beers while cleaning up the carnage #11 next morning wonder who screwed your car up BTW I've been dry for 5 years
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Re: LA series cast aluminum valve cover leaks
[Re: TJP]
#3042660
05/15/22 11:44 PM
05/15/22 11:44 PM
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,841 South Bend
John Brown
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,841
South Bend
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Might be ancient history, but in the late 80's Micky Thompson and Holley valve covers were both manufactured by Winters Casting Foundry in Canton Ohio. Probably come floating in on a boat from China by now. Winters made a lot of other castings, not just automotive items. Heard they also made castings for washing machines too.
July 19th should be "Drive Like Rockford Day". R.I.P. Jimmie.
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Re: LA series cast aluminum valve cover leaks
[Re: moparmarks]
#3042975
05/17/22 08:43 AM
05/17/22 08:43 AM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,525 God's Country Maryland
GODSCOUNTRY340
master
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master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,525
God's Country Maryland
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Seems to me the aftermarket used a 318 engine to mock up their tooling, since there were a lot more 318's than340's. The smaller 318 runners didn't hit the valve covers where the bigger 340 runners would. Almost every aftermarket valve cover bolted onto a 340 needs the lip on the cover ground down.
I love the smell of Deer guts in the morning, it smells like... VICTORY!
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Re: LA series cast aluminum valve cover leaks
[Re: GODSCOUNTRY340]
#3042980
05/17/22 09:07 AM
05/17/22 09:07 AM
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Joined: May 2019
Posts: 6,291 nowhere
Sniper
master
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master
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 6,291
nowhere
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Seems to me the aftermarket used a 318 engine to mock up their tooling, since there were a lot more 318's than340's. The smaller 318 runners didn't hit the valve covers where the bigger 340 runners would. Almost every aftermarket valve cover bolted onto a 340 needs the lip on the cover ground down. I'd buy that theory if the same issue didn't apply to the B/RB covers as well. Cracked a brand new set of MP cast valve covers tightening them down on a 413 back int he 80's. That's how I learned about it.
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