EThec

know if there are upgraded or aftermarket replacement billet covers available?
my damn passnger side cover has been leaking for a couple months or so and now that the car is due for an oil change i'm going to have it fixed. I thought i read at one time someone was machining replacement covers that promised not to warp and would remedy this problem. or am i just dreaming?

red993tt

I have these
http://eagleday.com/993bilovaco.html

911/Q45

I don't think the plastic covers warp. Most likely the seals just dried out after all these years, especially if it's low mileage and sat a lot. A more expensive problem could be loose exhaust valves that cause excessive crankcase pressure and push oil past the seals.

chris walrod

the gaskets compress and harden over time allowing oil past them. While the ally valve covers are neat and stiffer, I dont feel they are absolutly necessary to gain a good seal.

Carrera GT

Replace the seals if they leak enough to trouble you. This is not a big deal. The plastic covers are a decade old, but I (too) have not heard of warping, cracking etc. I just replaced the gaskets in mine. $500 for billet covers ... hang on, is this the 996 Turbo forum on 6Speed? ... kidding.

DM993tt

Steven at Imagine Auto has some aftermarket valve cover options.

EThec

thanks for the replies fellas...... the leak is enough that i need to have it fixed. i had the driver side one done a few 3 years ago and the shop didn't change both while they were in there but definitely charged me enough labor to do both. i haven't taken my car back to them. if i knew more then i would have insisted they changed them both. i'm having them both replaced this time. $500 is a bit pricey for some aluminum covers though if they aren't really an improvement.

chris walrod

Keep in mind the labor for lower v/c gasket replacements will be higher than that of a na 993 due to the hairdryers being in the way.

ca993twin

Ethec,

If your gonna pull off the turbos, then the "while we're in there..." bug will strike. Is it time for a turbo rebuild? How are the plugs? Wires? Would you like to pull the headers off and do the "collector port" job? Think of this as an opportunity....

EThec

although imagine does have them at a reasonable price, my shop inspected mine and didn't feel replacing them was necessary. if they leak again in 2 years i'll be kicking myself.

Woodster

This is EXACTLY how my 993 TT slippery slope started.
Leaking valve cover on one side and turbo seal on the other, So I replaced:
2) new UMW Z/C stage 2 turbos
1) new Viper Bob clutch,pressure plate, flywheel, and TOB.
1) new set of headers
1) new set of mufflers
1) used 100 cell cat system
1) new power steering belt (otherwise difficult to get at)
new plugs, coil, wires and other electrical stuff
corner balance, alignment
diverter valves
coilovers

Hey, when you are in there you "might as well" do a few other things...

Good Luck.

EThec

ca993twin,

plugs and wires are good.... were changed at the 45k service a year ago. at least i know the plugs were... not sure about the wires, but the wires are on the top side anyway and would have nothing to do with "while we're in there..." on a lower valve cover job. as much as i'd like to do a turbo upgrade mine are in good shape. i try to treat them well and let them cool before shutdown. car makes full boost and never smokes. car has 57k miles and i'm sure one day they'll need replacing, but i can't justify the $6k for kevins stage 1 if there's no sign of needing replacement and i'm only looking at less than $1k for seals and an oil change. the header job i could have looked at, but then maybe i'll get to that when the turbos need replacing. i'm trying real hard to fight off this bug..... exercise often and proper cool down routine ensures good health.

ca993twin

EThec,

You are preaching good sense to a board that wants to hear none of that. We want everyone to be afflicted with our disease.

Actually... your plan DOES make good sense. Try to ignore us crazy nitwits!

Woodster

Steve is right,

for many of us "Drugs would be cheaper" Ha!

MK

IrocMan

Interesting topic.
I was asking in the tuning section if some of you had leaks because of the plastic covers.
I've been using them for a while on track cars and they never leaked.

-Luc