Warped valve covers

[ecgreen]

Put a straight edge on my valve covers and they are warped up to around 1/32 of an inch in certain spots. Advice/tips on how to straighten them out? I am thinking place them on a 2x6 and pound them out as best as I can.

 

[Dirtman]

I've never had any reasonable success trying to straighten warped valve covers. Usually they just end up worse. Besides simply replacing them you can get some hold down tabs from a small block chevy that give the bolts a larger surface to clamp onto, and use RTV on both sides of the gasket.

 

[ecgreen]

I've never had any reasonable success trying to straighten warped valve covers. Usually they just end up worse. Besides simply replacing them you can get some hold down tabs from a small block chevy that give the bolts a larger surface to clamp onto, and use RTV on both sides of the gasket.

I havent started beating on them for fear of making it worse. Wanted to see if anyone has had any success.

 

[RonD]

If they are the stamped steel kind then yes you can straighten them
You can put shims under them face down, opposite warp, and press down to get them back to straight

For the lips pound with hammer around the holes to get them back to flush, they are often bent down from over tightening the bolts, so even when bolts are tight there is no pressure on the gasket between the holes

 

[Sharky]

use 2 sets of gaskets ?

 

[adsm08]

use 2 sets of gaskets ?

Don't do this.

Brass drift and a level metal table is the best I've ever been able to do, and yes, it usually just produces more smaller warped spots.

 

[SenorNoob]

1/32 is very little. I'd have thought there was more tolerance on a gasket than that?

Can't see any attempt at repairing doing anything but making it worse.

 

[ecgreen]

1/32 is very little. I'd have thought there was more tolerance on a gasket than that?

Can't see any attempt at repairing doing anything but making it worse.

Agreed.