warped valve covers

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Mar 9, 2001 | 06:48 PM

freeway

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warped valve covers

How do you straighten warped valve covers? When I put them on my table saw (flat surface), they rock from end to end about 1/16-1/8". I'm hunting a leak that causes a massive puddle when the Bronco is running. I just spent a couple days slipping a new oil pan gasket in, and the leak is still there. It looks to be running down the back corner of the block and dripping off the back of the oil pan. I just put new felpro gaskets on the valve covers, but the leak just got a little worse, so I'm guessing the warp is causing it. I probably cranked them up to hard and warped 'em. Any ideas?

Dan
85 Bronco
351w H.O.

Mar 9, 2001 | 09:03 PM

otto

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From: Racine WI

warped valve covers

I would just get another set of valve covers unless you can find spreader bars for Ford valve covers which dstribute the load more evenly I've only seen these for 4 bolt sb chevy valve covers tho, they are like long springs which put pressure on all of the valve cove thus creating a better seal, or try to seal them up with new gaskets and a healthy amount of form a gasket

Mar 9, 2001 | 10:39 PM

jakegypsum

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From: Linwood, N.J. USA!

warped valve covers

Valve cover replacement is the best bet. Re-using the old covers would probably haunt you sooner or later. Good luck.

Jakegypsum // Ford fleet, soup to nuts.

Mar 9, 2001 | 11:04 PM

Franklin2

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From: Virginia

warped valve covers

Hold the valve covers upside down in your hand and put the lip
on the edge of a sturdy flat table. Take a hammer and carefully
beat the edge flat to meet the table. Concentrate on the bolt
hole areas since these are what get pushed out of shape the most.
When you get one side done turn it around and do the other. Use
your eye and work with the lip till you get it flat. This is
a ritual that should be done on any sheetmetal valve cover everytime new gasket is installed.

Mar 10, 2001 | 02:36 AM

jams3

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Joined: Aug 2000

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warped valve covers

sence you said that you over titend the covers franklen is right on how to do it but i use 2 pices of wood like 2x4s 3 inches
long 1 on top 1 on the bottom and the bolt holls are th most
inportant to work on.
when you install the covers use a 1/4 inch drive rachet
to titen the bolts and chock up on the rachet you dont need to
get them over tight and cross tited the bolts.
if you over titen the bolts you will on do all the work you
just did with the hammer and wood.
its like titening a trans pan but less bolts.
hope this helps.
good luck
marc

Mar 10, 2001 | 08:19 AM

freeway

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warped valve covers

Thanks for the ideas. I'm going out to the shop now to try and straighten them. They may be tricky to flatten out because the sides sit flat when I put one side at a time on the flat surface, it is only when I put the whole cover on the flat surface that it rocks back and forth.
Dan

Mar 11, 2001 | 08:56 AM

Motorcraftsman

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warped valve covers

you said you seen a massive amount of oil dripping from the back of the block, behind the oil pan? the rear main seal may be leaking, so look into that.

as for the valve covers, get you a set of chrome ones,
or try this, my inline six valve cover was bowed , before i installed a new gasket i tightened it down to the head pretty good.i tightening the inner bolts on to the outer ones, after that i removed it and put it on with the gasket and torqued it to the factory specs, it never gave me any leaks since that, so this may work for you.

John Floyd
South Mills,NC
'86 F150 2wd 300 6
Crane Cam 260/272
stock manifolds, w/ staight pipe