Hot headers cracked my valve covers!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 11
From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,157
Likes: 37
From: North Carolina
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'11-'12
Oh Ok...I thought you had said in another thread that you had the slip fits, which is what LG uses...where one pipe "slips" into the other....which is why I said I hated mine as they are a bear to separate after they've been on for awhile. The Kooks and AR use the socket type connector which is much easier to take down. I wish LG had them. I understand that Kooks redid their collector design which resulted in better midrange torque since Guy did his back to back test. I want to get either mine coated, or try a coated set of Kooks or ARs in a back to back dyno and see which is a better way to go.
Here is what mine look like, you'll understand why they can become almost welded together.
Here is what mine look like, you'll understand why they can become almost welded together.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master<br><img src="/forums/images/ranks/5k-6k.gif" border="0">
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,404
Likes: 1
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Ask if the LS9 valve cover is available, the coils mount mount directly to the cover, no mounting plate.
You could also build a small heat shield for directly above the header flange and attach it using a couple of header bolts.
It's interesting that it only damaged the one side, can you datalog or scan that side and watch the O2 function? Just curious why only one side.
You could also build a small heat shield for directly above the header flange and attach it using a couple of header bolts.
It's interesting that it only damaged the one side, can you datalog or scan that side and watch the O2 function? Just curious why only one side.
Boy, I think you are going to be disappointed when your new ones come.
From what I see in the pics, that is normal tooling marks from the castings. If its not leaking oil out, That's probably what you are seeing. I would pull the other side off and see similar marks on that one as well.
Just trying to save you some aggravation.
From what I see in the pics, that is normal tooling marks from the castings. If its not leaking oil out, That's probably what you are seeing. I would pull the other side off and see similar marks on that one as well.
Just trying to save you some aggravation.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,052
Likes: 14
I am in the process of installing heads so my valve covers are off and my passenger side (only) has the same tooling marks. Don't sweat it.
I tried to take a pic but they hardly even show with my camera. They would be pouring oil from brittle gaskets WAY before the alluminum would crack from heat. I think the paint would bake off the hood long before the valve covers would crack from heat.
Actually, after looking at them again, I think mine are worse than yours. They are not cracks though.
I tried to take a pic but they hardly even show with my camera. They would be pouring oil from brittle gaskets WAY before the alluminum would crack from heat. I think the paint would bake off the hood long before the valve covers would crack from heat.
Actually, after looking at them again, I think mine are worse than yours. They are not cracks though.
Last edited by JayplaySS2; Dec 7, 2008 at 11:49 AM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master<br><img src="/forums/images/ranks/5k-6k.gif" border="0">
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,404
Likes: 1
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
I am in the process of installing heads so my valve covers are off and my passenger side (only) has the same tooling marks. Don't sweat it.
I tried to take a pic but they hardly even show with my camera. They would be pouring oil from brittle gaskets WAY before the alluminum would crack from heat. I think the paint would bake off the hood long before the valve covers would crack from heat.
Actually, after looking at them again, I think mine are worse than yours. They are not cracks though.
I tried to take a pic but they hardly even show with my camera. They would be pouring oil from brittle gaskets WAY before the alluminum would crack from heat. I think the paint would bake off the hood long before the valve covers would crack from heat.
Actually, after looking at them again, I think mine are worse than yours. They are not cracks though.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
Likes: 187
From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I am in the process of installing heads so my valve covers are off and my passenger side (only) has the same tooling marks. Don't sweat it.
I tried to take a pic but they hardly even show with my camera. They would be pouring oil from brittle gaskets WAY before the alluminum would crack from heat. I think the paint would bake off the hood long before the valve covers would crack from heat.
Actually, after looking at them again, I think mine are worse than yours. They are not cracks though.
I tried to take a pic but they hardly even show with my camera. They would be pouring oil from brittle gaskets WAY before the alluminum would crack from heat. I think the paint would bake off the hood long before the valve covers would crack from heat.
Actually, after looking at them again, I think mine are worse than yours. They are not cracks though.
Also, why are you removing the valve covers to put headers on? Fuel rail covers I get, but valve covers I don't.
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master<br><img src="/forums/images/ranks/5k-6k.gif" border="0">
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,404
Likes: 1
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 11
From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 11
From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
Oh Ok...I thought you had said in another thread that you had the slip fits, which is what LG uses...where one pipe "slips" into the other....which is why I said I hated mine as they are a bear to separate after they've been on for awhile. The Kooks and AR use the socket type connector which is much easier to take down. I wish LG had them. I understand that Kooks redid their collector design which resulted in better midrange torque since Guy did his back to back test. I want to get either mine coated, or try a coated set of Kooks or ARs in a back to back dyno and see which is a better way to go.
Here is what mine look like, you'll understand why they can become almost welded together.
Here is what mine look like, you'll understand why they can become almost welded together.
Ohh, I see now... My bad!
Hey, if you get your headers coated, I would be really interested in doing a back to back comparison between your coated LGs and my coated Kooks; I would just need them for an afternoon at Cartek and I'd pay the dyno of course. Just let me know.
And btw I REALLY recommend JetHot coating; my headers still look like that picture, 15,000 miles later:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 11
From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
They are not DEFUNCT 
If he is indeed back, that's a good thing.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
Likes: 187
From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Well, as I recall, the owner was divorcing his wife, so he ran a great sale, sold me those headers REALLY cheap (something like $1400 coated and shipped with a catted x-pipe?), and then *completely* vanished from the map the next day; his e-mails started bouncing, his phone lines were disconnected, and no one could get a hold of him... A search for his name on the forum will yield a few threads wondering where the hell he went...
If he is indeed back, that's a good thing.
If he is indeed back, that's a good thing.
I like you bought a bunch of parts at prices I could not believe, shipped from the suppliers, so he wasn't liquidating his inventory, he was liquidating his suppliers inventory. We all end up paying for that.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,684
Likes: 107
From: Opelika Alabama
looks fine to me! those are casting marks, the discoloration might is from heat, but thats all it is if those were cracks, do you know how bad a vacume leak you would have? what are you going to do when Gene sends you one just like it?