HELP, My FE is sick

[John Simpson]

Hey guys! Not sure where this will get the best response so I will repost under general discussion as well... Need some help diagnosing what appears to be a minor problem that could turn into real trouble!!

I was just under the hood checking/adjusting valve lash and noticed somthing very odd.. The exhaust valve springs on the number 6 and 7 cylinders are cutting grooves in the valve covers! And that just cant be a good thing. Lash for these valves is the correct 025 - 027 cold. All cylinders have a good 175psi w/no leaks. (i think that works out to about 10.5 or 11 :1)

The FE is a 428scj w/stock heads (solid lifters, push rods and rockers)

The covers are the standard aluminum "Cobra 427" sand cast finish covers. nothing fancy.

A - Should I worry?
B - Should I grind out a larger grove so they dont rub?
C - Get new covers?

What gives?

[chopper]

With the wall thickness of the cast aluminum valve covers, you should be able to just grind down a little of the area around where the springs are contacting the covers without causing any further problems. I have a set of the old cast valve covers on my car and I initially had a little bit of interference from the outboard stands. I just took off a bit of the material with a Dremel tool and have had no problems with the covers.

I guess I'm just a bit surprised that you are having that kind of problem with the exhaust valves on just the two inner cylinders on one side. Just for arguments sake, who made the valve covers? Have you checked the other bank to make sure there are no problems on that side?

[Clois Harlan]

I know this sounds stupid but try switching sides with your valve covers. I had a previous set that would hit if I had them on the wrong side. Doesn't cost anything to try it.

Clois

[John Simpson]

thanks guys. The consensus is that the covers are at fault and the valve train is OK.

Clois - I like your swap idea I will give that a try before grinding.

chopper - the covers are from Branda. nice heavy pieces.

Check out the photos of the problem under All cobra talk.

Thanks!

[My427stang]

I'd probably put a stright edge along the bottom edge of those springs and see if they are kicked out, maybe even start it to see if the valve is moving around.

Could be bad/broken guide or even a bent valve. Never see that happen and still run good, but I'd be leary of just grinding the covers without checking more

[John Simpson]

Thanks Stang - I checked as you suggested and all the springs/valves are in perfect running order.

What I did notice however is that the intake and head are not exactly flush where the valve cover mates. the intake is apx 1/16th of an inch higher. This could account for slight misalingment and hence the rub.... Other than that the engine is healthy and running great.

I have ground some additional material from the covers, changed the oil, pulled the pan and oil pump and given them a complete inspection and cleaning. Now she is all buttoned up and we will see what the next few miles show.

Thanks

-John

[Michael C Henry]

I have the Cobra cast valve covers but never had the springs and keepers touch.I'm going through the milling process now having the intake flanges milled to get the ports and valvecover flanges to match.I had .020" taken off each side the first time.Going for another .025".With no Gaskets intake and head valve cover flanges almost matched.,Intake a touch higher. FelPro Gaskets micrometered at .055" each.The intake ports were off as much.If the heads are milled the intake manifold has to be milled to keep everything matching.The original cork gasket strips accross the front and back are replaced by RTV, as that clearance is reduced or in my case almost elliminated.It won't take much RTV to fill that space now.I plan on using the Blue oil resistant stuff.

[RICK LAKE]

Hi John Simpson Buy two sets of valve covers and glue them together . Let them dry. Assembly as normal. Should clear the rocker covers now. Do not over tighten hold down bolts. 8-10 inch lbs. and let set. Rick Lake

[FE Specialties]

Hi John,
Just a little affermation to previous posts. If you have a misalignment between the head and intake with the intake higher, this will cause the valve cover to tilt away from the valve springs and should really aleviate any rubbing. So I am a little concerned about your rubbing. If the valve spring retainer is walking on top of the valve spring it can move over as much as .080 of an inch, so you might check this.
Also, if you have that much of mismatch between the intake and head, your port alignment will suffer!! What intake are you running?
Hope this is of some use!!
Tom Lucas FE Specialties 916-339-0427.