C5 Tech Corvette Tech/Performance: LS1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Valve Covers Cracking???

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 3, 2009 | 10:15 PM
  #1  
mstromquist's Avatar
mstromquist
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime Gold
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,430
Likes: 4,829
From: BEST Corn-Nation
2015 C5 of the Year Winner
Default Valve Covers Cracking???

Don't know if this belongs here or the general section, but.....

Was doing some cleaning today and noticed my valve covers have what appear to be cracks around the coil retainer holes. Does anyone know if this is a problem with the LS1 or just mine? Seems to be more dirt/oil residue around that area as well. Does anyone else have this problem?

Do these look like cracks to you??

Before cleaning...


After cleaning. Can you see what I'm talking about?


Do I need new valve covers?
Reply
Old Mar 3, 2009 | 10:29 PM
  #2  
nastymant's Avatar
nastymant
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 161
Likes: 1
From: Cypress TX
Default

no, i believe those are just casting marks...i think you are good to go
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2009 | 05:40 AM
  #3  
vettenuts's Avatar
vettenuts
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
 
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Default

There are a lot of imperfections in the castings. I attempted to polish mine last winter and gave up because the imperfections were too bad and throughout the casting.
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2009 | 07:48 AM
  #4  
vsocks1's Avatar
vsocks1
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,464
Likes: 2
From: Cedarburg, WI
Default

They do not look like casting marks to me - wait and see what happens after some more miles. If oil residue shows up they could be small cracks.
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2009 | 10:50 AM
  #5  
itzza427's Avatar
itzza427
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,604
Likes: 8
From: Belleville Il
Default

Originally Posted by vsocks1
They do not look like casting marks to me - wait and see what happens after some more miles. If oil residue shows up they could be small cracks.
I think it looks more like a casting flaw than a casting mark. I agree with the wait and watch as well. Doesn't appear to be a real problem as that build up probably took years to form.I wouldn't worry about it unless it's one of those things that just bug you 'cause you know it's there!!
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2009 | 10:56 AM
  #6  
LoneStarFRC's Avatar
LoneStarFRC
Team Owner
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Default

Originally Posted by mstromquist
.........
Do I need new valve covers?
No.

btw, I noticed your EOP sensor relocate. Nice.
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2009 | 01:30 PM
  #7  
c5blkvetteguy's Avatar
c5blkvetteguy
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 2
From: Minnesota City MN
Default

Mine are the same way! Been like that for years. I cleaned the valve covers up and no leaking.
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2009 | 01:43 PM
  #8  
wcsinx's Avatar
wcsinx
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
Default

Saw the same thing on mine when I cleaned them off. Inspection under magnification confirmed they are indeed casting flaws and not cracks. The inner surface was perfectly smooth.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Mar 5, 2009 | 12:36 AM
  #9  
happiedazs's Avatar
happiedazs
Pro
Supporting Lifetime
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 647
Likes: 22
From: Norwalk CT and Boynton Beach FL
Default

If I had those I'd fill them in with JB Weld of some type of epoxy just to make sure
Reply
Old Mar 5, 2009 | 07:44 AM
  #10  
vsocks1's Avatar
vsocks1
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,464
Likes: 2
From: Cedarburg, WI
Default

Originally Posted by happiedazs
If I had those I'd fill them in with JB Weld of some type of epoxy just to make sure
I would be upgrading to some new ones myself! Maybe I am just too picky but it would bother me!
Reply
Old Mar 5, 2009 | 08:34 AM
  #11  
wcsinx's Avatar
wcsinx
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
Default

Originally Posted by happiedazs
If I had those I'd fill them in with JB Weld of some type of epoxy just to make sure
There is no filling as at least on mine they were ridges and not valleys. I could've ground them off, but good lord who gives a chit? Once the coil packs and rail covers are on, you have 0 chance of seeing them.
Reply
Old Mar 5, 2009 | 08:49 AM
  #12  
SilentFright's Avatar
SilentFright
Drifting
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 0
From: Arlington Texas, originally from San Angelo, TX
Default

Originally Posted by vettenuts
There are a lot of imperfections in the castings. I attempted to polish mine last winter and gave up because the imperfections were too bad and throughout the casting.


They have been on every set of OEM LSX valve covers I have ever seen. They are casting flaws.
Reply
Old Mar 5, 2009 | 02:42 PM
  #13  
mstromquist's Avatar
mstromquist
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime Gold
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,430
Likes: 4,829
From: BEST Corn-Nation
2015 C5 of the Year Winner
Default

Thanks guys. It does bother me a little to know that they are there, but on the other note, it is under the covers and coils. So just to make sure, I am going to look at them a little closer this next weekend just to make sure for my own piece of mind. A little magnification and some dye pen should do the trick. Appreciate the comments everyone.
Reply
Old Mar 6, 2009 | 01:59 PM
  #14  
blue63cpe's Avatar
blue63cpe
Racer
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 491
Likes: 2
From: Arlington Hts. IL
Default

Welcome to the wonderful world of the low bidder parts. There's no need to use a better alloy or a thicker casting when cheap plastic covers dress the engine bay. GM used plastic valve covers on the lt engines from 93 on. The ls engines also have plastic intakes, tell me fast don't make a tidy profit on thiers. How many pennies does GM make using nylon gears instead of steel on the headlight motors?
Reply
Old Mar 6, 2009 | 08:35 PM
  #15  
LoneStarFRC's Avatar
LoneStarFRC
Team Owner
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Default

Originally Posted by blue63cpe
Welcome to the wonderful world of the low bidder parts. There's no need to use a better alloy or a thicker casting when cheap plastic covers dress the engine bay. GM used plastic valve covers on the lt engines from 93 on. The ls engines also have plastic intakes, tell me fast don't make a tidy profit on thiers. How many pennies does GM make using nylon gears instead of steel on the headlight motors?
Interesting how those original nylon headlight gears on my car have continued to work well for the last 154,000 miles too.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Valve Covers Cracking???





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:33 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE