Valve Cover Gasket Sealing Issue
The valve covers are not hitting the intake. I put a straight edge on both heads and both ends of the valve cover rails are lower than the center. I would have never thought that was possible.
I think I will research which of the recommended gasket sets are the thickest and get those. I hate to start bending the valve covers, which worked fine on the prior heads, unless I have to.
Thanks for your help guys.
One day I decided to put fabbed covers on my engine and ran into the same thing as you did, but I don't think anyone believed that it was the heads when I mentioned that problem either.:D
As you mentioned, I could push down on one end of the covers and the other end would pop up about 1/4 inch.
If you take another set of the rubber gaskets and cut about the last 4 inches off each end, then attach those peices to on top of your full gasket with black RTV and press them down and allow to dry.
The next day use a 4.5 grinder (or moto tool) and taper the sharp edges where they come together, then assemble as you normally would.
Personally I hate thicker more likely to seep gaskets, and will do just about anything to avoid them.
(besides, I don't think a thicker gasket would do it with 1/8 gap on each end.)
Kind of a pain in the butt but it works. :-)
This is the idea, and how it still looks today and was before I put the headers on.
