Continental Valve Cover Repair

[seaheli]

Would there be an interest in seeing the weld repair of damaged screw holes in engine valve covers?

[Captgrumps]

Those are cast covers--they will not fit under a Champ cowling. They are scarce and expensive if you can find them. Knew a gent going for Grand Champion with his Champ and he was trying to get those old "original" covers to fit under his original Champ cowling. Got him straightened out and but he only won runner-up at OSH.

Doug

[Dennis]

Charles,

Here are a couple of pictures of my cast valve covers. The cowling was built around the covers. I bought them on ebay a number of years ago. The cost was about $120 for the set. I got lucky on the buy. I missed out on several sets because they went for over $200. I have no idea what they sell for today. I think they are worth fixing.

Dennis

[David Johnson]

Just returned from Middletown. Don Jones from Guam is making replacements. They looked good too. Joe A. can probably give you the contact info. David J.

[Nathan K. Hammond]

I loved to see how you'd repair the damage.

nkh

[seaheli]

I have been away from the shop for several weeks, trying to catch up. Welded the broken screw holes in the valve covers.

Nathan, I cut the weld area with a rotary file lubricated with canning wax. Then acid etch and heat soak the parts for 30 minutes at 400 degrees. This will remove most of the oil in the weld area. Oil will rise to the top of the puddle, push it away with the arc. If it will not move (oil) you'll have to cut, etch and heat soak again.

Covers after weld, ready to shape the boss area. Acid etch and soaking oven.

[seaheli]

Cutting away excess weld with rotary file lubricated with canning wax.

[seaheli]

Working a little in the shop this week in the evenings, finished cutting the screw boss in the valve covers. Ready for glass peening and drilling the screw hole!

[joea]

Again, if I ever win the lottery, you are coming to work for me!

Excellent work!

Joe A