Results of cracked valve cover

[BarryK]

Bernie (BWMurph) found someone local to repair my cracked valve cover locally and at what I thought was a reasonable enough cost.
Got the cover back last night and only had to file down a bit of the welding bead that was up on the gasket surface area. Filed it down flat and smooth and got the cover back on the car this morning.
The guy welded it from the inside and you can still see the crack line slightly from the outside of the cover but it wasn't too bad. Once it was back on the car and with the temp send wire running right above it and the vacumn line also running just above that area it's not noticable at all unless you really lean down over the motor and look hard for it. Even with that, you pretty much need to know the crack was there and what you are looking for or else I think you would miss it. I'm guessing 99% of the people ever looking at my car will never notice it.
i'm still going to look for another set of original covers without the casting flaw if I can find a pair at a reasonable cost simply because I know the crack is there and it will always bother me but I'm in no rush.

Here are pics of the cover. The first three show the crack before repairs since luckily Bernie shot a few pics of it after he took it home with him. The others show the repaired cover than the cover on the car showing it's not very noticable:

http://69.253.166.197/page1/page76/page89/page89.html

 

[paul67]

Nice job! No one will ever notice that.

 

[BarryK]

thanks Paul
I'm pretty happy (and glad) how it turned out

 

[paul67]

This cover might be fine when cleaned up.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Corvette-Valve-Cover_W0QQitemZ4596079910QQcategoryZ34202QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

 

[BarryK]

yep, would probably clean up fine, but I need a complete pair as the other cover has a small spot flaking so if i replace one I might as well replace both

 

[JonM]

Looks good Berry...You know what?...that would look good right next to a shinny new rebuilt carburetor...

 

[BarryK]

you think so Jon? hmmmmm, what a good idea. i'll have to consider that


actually, it would be nice if mine would come back so I can see that for myself!

 

[Fuelie]

Hi Barry,

The cover looks great. As mentioned before , nobody will ever notice when just looking at your engine compartment. The good thing it that it is solid again after welding and you can continue to enjoy driving the car without worrying.

Love reading your posts, keep going with the projects.

Take care,
Brian

 

[BarryK]

Hi Brian
nope, nobody is going to notice it i think. and if they do, they better have a d*mn good reason why they are leaning over my newly painted fender that far and the $$$ in their pocket to pay me for the scratches i'll need to get buffed out.
really, I think it would take that much to ever see anything at all.

BTW, YOU need a new project car so we can follow posts of yours!

 

[Fuelie]

Hi Brian

BTW, YOU need a new project car so we can follow posts of yours!

Barry,

After being unemployed for a year and investing a lot of effort in my new endeavour, I am currently on the short end of the cashflow and free time schedule

I have a ton of "I want to's" in the garage and hopefully will get into some of them soon. I have a real "itch" for a project.

Take care,
Brian

 

[BarryK]

Brian
I know the unemployment feeling well............... plus also trying to start a new small business with my wife. It's going to ge a long, hard road ahead.

Besides not being able to find any decent local mechanics the unemployment thing was a huge factor in deciding to learn how to do my own work on my car otherwise I couldn't afford to get anything repaired and/or improved on her.

 

[firstgear]

looks good...no one will ever know....if it were me...I would leave it...I have so many other areas to put money into the car these days....

 

[Vette66AirCoupe]

Barry,

Jerry MacNeish quoted me $95 plus shipping to restore the VC's on my '60 which are similar to yours. Why don't you send those pics along to him and see what he has to say? 1-2 weeks turn around too. Hell, we could make a road trip out of it and take both sets down to him. I'd like to see his facility anyway.

 

[BarryK]

Terry
I had originally planned on sending Jerry my VC's, intake, and exhaust manifold. Because of budget constraints I decided to do them all myself and to be honest I'm thrilled the way they came out. They may not be "NCRS correct" and many people may have a coniption that I glass bead blasted them but they did come out looking very good and the cost was VERY minimal (a container of "Hot Stuff" dressing for the exhaust manifolds and some gas to drive to Chuck's house in MD for the glass beading) rather than $425 plus shipping both ways for Jerry to do it. In another two years or so I may still send them out to Jerry but meanwhile they are great for now.
As for a road trip, I would like to see his place sometime and maybe even also Corvette Specialties of MD as I don't think they are too far from each other.

 

[Vette66AirCoupe]

I guess MacNeish must have quoted two different types of restoration. My estimate was $95, yours was $425. What did you ask him to do? I asked for a price on refurbishment without being more specific. :confused

 

[jims427400]

Berry,
I sent my tripowers to craig last monday and I know he spent some time in California but I have not been able to get hold of him all week. Have you heard anything on the statis onyour carb and if you do talk to him,ask him about mine. thanks Jim

 

[BarryK]

Jim
He was on vacation and is suppose to be back tomorrow (Monday). I'm calling tomorrow to check on the status of my carb.
Since he was away all last week and you just sent it to him last Mon there isn't going to be a status on yours yet i'm sure. It's probably still sitting in an unopened box waiting on his return

 

[firstgear]

I guess MacNeish must have quoted two different types of restoration. My estimate was $95, yours was $425. What did you ask him to do? I asked for a price on refurbishment without being more specific. :confused

I can't say for sure...Barry will have to comment...but he also did his intake manifold in addition to the valve covers. Not sure if there was something else or not.....

 

[BarryK]

I guess MacNeish must have quoted two different types of restoration. My estimate was $95, yours was $425. What did you ask him to do? I asked for a price on refurbishment without being more specific. :confused

Sorry Terry. Yes, the $95 on just the VC's is correct. The $425 was going to be the cost on the VC's, intake, and exhaust manifolds together.

 

[Vette66AirCoupe]

Ok, that explains it! I was wondering if there was more than one process that he does down there regarding the valve covers. Thanks.