chiod1

so i took my 89 s4 928 to the porsche dealership for major work. Im having the valve/cam cover seals replaced, wires, plugs, resealing injectors, idle stabilizer replaced, plus more. As I final touch I asked them to have the cam covers and air intake powder coated. A few days later, the service supervisor calls me to let me know that my cam cover has a hole in it near one of the main bolts.

First I hear of a cracked cam cover. I asked him if it happened during the powder coating process, and he said no. he said it may have been caused by a bolt that was over tightened. How the heck does this happen? What fuel or additives do I use in the future to prevent valve cover seal leaks? Oh yeah, he also told me that the covers cant be powder coated because they are made of magnesium something or other, and that they would melt...any info guys!? thank you in advance.

Giovanni

Powder coating them is not a problem but I would be worried about reusing the one you have. If looks though as the metal deflection is only the outside, but the MGR said it has a hole so it would not seal up???

I am picking up a parts car tomorrow and if the intake covers are intact they will be FS \ for a fair price (and I can powder coat them wrinkle black, satin black, red, or yellow).

chiod1

the dealership is ordering a set for me......and they aren't cheap! like 2 and change...thanks Giovanni. Actually, Giovanni is my fathers name and my son's name. Its popular amongst us IIIItalians...

michaelathome

Why are you not going to one of the big-3 or one of the sponcer dismantlers for the replacements?? Used should be MUCH les than what you are paying?

Michael

Imo000

These covers are not really prone for cracking or breaking. A good used would only cost a fraction. Are they replacing both sides?

Giovanni

Giovanni is like John back home. Lol, I remember in school there was always 1 or 2 other Giovanni's in my class and I hated my name. Well, its kinda unique now that I am in the States.

It should be costing you a fortune to fix that car through a Porsche dealer$hip. How long have you had the car? What other repairs do have in mind?

There are lots of sites for DIYs. These are the ones I use the most:
http://www.nichols.nu/tips.htm
http://members.rennlist.com/pirtle/z0_keep_main.html

SteveG

Chiod: You are at the dealer's mercy and have already found that they may not have the true story (powdercoating covers is done all the time). I will not divulge what I paid for minor parts to a dealer, I learned the expensive way. Some pay others and it's not a problem; most of us here if we can turn a wrench at all, choose to do it ourselves, not always b/c of the $$ but b/c we know it will be done right.

You've already joined renn, a wise move. Searching here can be time consuming, but is well spent. Know that there are archives and active threads, different search. If you start throwing out questions, it may be answered immediately, or it may fall w/o ever a blip. I haven't dealt with Devek, they have good rep in racing circles, so I will call it the "Big Two" : 928 International and 928 Specialists are our main suppliers, new and used parts. Sometimes they are a little more expensive, but they can answer questions and are an excellent source of info.

Mrmerlin

We have fresh coated covers for the 32 valvers in stock ready to ship. Motorsport 801 487 6733

Fastest928

We have plenty of valve covers in stock.

Marc

JHowell37

The way the bolts on these are designed should prevent you from cracking a valve cover.

chiod1

thanks everyone....i know who the big 3 are now...

i've actually been using the big three all along, except in the case of the vavve covers....haven't been able to get onto the Devek site though...


does anyone have an opinion as to how this valve cover cracked??

heinrich

So

Powdercoating requires electrolysis or something, no? Did they burn the cover?

Giovanni

The valve covers has not even been stripped (henced prepared) for powder coating yet so electrolysis is irrelevant in this case.

The covers on my 1988 with almost 300k had a smaller imperfection than yours and I just powder coated over it because that section does not hold the engine oil. So I guess its possible for the valve covers to develop flaws over time. It looks like an air pocket that bubbled out of the casting causing the damage.

chiod1

Giovanni,


thanks for help....it looks like some sort of burst to me too...its just unnerving that this could happen to a 928 with 84000 miles, but I guess air pockets can happen at any mileage. I originally brought the car to the dealership to have the valve gaskets replaced because the were leaking, then I decided to have them do everything ellse that goes along with the job. The service supervisor called me to let me know that the gaskets themselves were doing fairly well, the crack in the valve cover was causing most of the leak....


Gio, were you born in Italy? if so, what part?

I still have a lot of family there and spent every summer at my grandparents....