Valve cover machining
 

Hey all,

Just had to replace my valve cover as it was warped and leaking like crazy. I found a good one for sale online, and swapped it out, but now I have the old one. I also have a small machine shop to play with.

Has anyone ever tried to re-machine their valve cover flat? If not I'll give it a shot on the old bridgeport and take some pics along the way...

B

Fixturing is the key to happiness, show pics

If you machine it flat you also have to machine the re-inforced areas where the studs go through.
If there is not enough threads on the Studs you need to thread them down further.

Check it first with a surface plate and feeler gage.

If it is close get a big sheet of sand paper and put it on a surface plate with some oil and lap it with a figure 8 motion.

As mentioned holding a valve cover on a Bridgeport is going to be very hard. You may not have enough travel to clear the cutter on both sides of the valve cover either.

... clean it, and turn it into a lamp...

Good idea vstech. Or make it in to a fancy clock. If you can get $50 for a hubcap clock I bet a valve cover clock would net an easy $75... :)

https://www.etsy.com/listing/188387176/mercedes-hubcap-clock-dark-blue-green?ref=sr_gallery_2&ga_search_query=mercedes+hubcap&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery

I just changed my gasket, I took a file and filed down the support towers. I then lightly filed the edges of the cover. This should give me a nice seal...if it is still a tad leaky I will get a few washers...as mine are missing anyway. Lapping is the best way to do it as was said...but who wants to buy that much sand paper :P