Empi GT Valve Covers - problems

[laurie18]

I have finally got round to attempting to fit the GT covers to my Imp but I have come up against a problem. If I offer up the lip of the cover to the lip of the head (without the gasket in place) they line up perfectly and are the correct shape but if I look through the bolt holes in the cover the mounting bolts attached to the rocker shafts are way out. If I try to bolt the covers up there is a large gap between the lip of the cover and the head which is hard to fill with the gasket.
I have never seen or handled a pair of these covers before so I have no idea how they should be, is this normal?
Has anyone else had similar problems?
I am pretty certain they are not repros .
I am using single port 1500cc heads
Any thoughts?
laurie

[Shubee2 (DSK)]

if there GT's there Real No One has Recasted them Yet!!  Never Heard of that Problem on A Stock VW Head, you run in to it more with aftermarket Heads like CB's SE heads and some of the Older Performance casting Heads, do the Valve cover look like they have been welded or redrilled?   can you post a Picture of the Covers Front and Back Side I can Compare the Picture With My GT Covers

[laurie18]

Thanks Shubee,
It's raining and nearly dark here in the UK. I'll get them out of the garage and photograph them in the morning, will include some of the key measurements as well.
laurie

[laurie18]

I hope the attached pictures have worked. With the two covers placed flat on the table with the finned/logo side facing up they are the same, same offset left and right for the bolt holes (approx 67mm from the bolt hole centre to the fin edge on the right and approx 74mm on the left).
They do not seem to be 'handed' - should they be?
laurie

[Zach Gomulka]

They shouldnt be "handed". The heads are the same, so should be the valve covers...

[max, Der Bahnstormerz]

You are using a big heavy grooved rubber rocker cover gasket aren't you? Not the stock cork ones.

[Shubee2 (DSK)]

I hope the attached pictures have worked. With the two covers placed flat on the table with the finned/logo side facing up they are the same, same offset left and right for the bolt holes (approx 67mm from the bolt hole centre to the fin edge on the right and approx 74mm on the left).
They do not seem to be 'handed' - should they be?
laurie

Are the Holes to high? where are you getting the space on the Valve cover not fitting? top? bottom? Sides?? The Cover look just like Mine are you using the c channel Gaskets?

[laurie18]

The gap problem is at the sides. I am using the 'C' channel gaskets. They are not the originals but those made for the repro Empi covers which have thinner walls so the gaskets are a bit of a stretch. The rubber bolt bushes I am using may add to the problem as they are so tight they do not 'give' at all.

[Shubee2 (DSK)]

are you useing the Original Hardware?

[Shubee2 (DSK)]

if you bolt them up without the gaskets how do they line up?

[laurie18]

Unfortunately I have no original hardware. If I bolt them up without gaskets they are way out, I can get a scewdriver blade between the cover and the head. I am using the flanged bushes I found here in the UK, they are very tight on the bolt shaft and the hole. I think I sent you some, I guess they are not really suitable, what did you think

[Lids]

Can you take some pics of them bolted into place without the rubber grommet and with the rubber grommet.  How much play do you have with out the rubber grommet?

[.]

The original hardware had a groove machined into the mounting stud to accomodate the seal.
If the seal you are using on the stud is "too tall" the valve cover will not seat correctly.
You can eaither have the groove macined (better sealing) or cut down the height of the seal slightly.