TTA valve covers needed

WHTTRSH

Sleeper
Joined
May 1, 2011
Anyone have a pair of original valve covers from a 89 TTA.
NOT from any other vehicle that has GM matching part numbers. I got number matching valve covers from other GM vehicles installed now and those leak towards the rear. I messed up my original set. So I went out and got valve covers from other GM vehicles w the so called correct part numbers but for whatever they still leak. I've tried everything even silicone (ultra black & gray). If I knew this was going to be an issue I would have just got the GN1 aluminum race ported heads installed right away on my build. Instead I had the originals ported to keep a more stock look and save a few bucks...regretting that decision now w this oil leak I can't stop!
 
Huh, odd. I have had zero issues with any of the "other" valve covers on my TTA's. Sucks man, hope you get it resolved. How's the car running?
 
Really...maybe i should try another set but just not get them powder coated?? You think that the powdercoating process could of possibly warped them or something...The car runs great otherwise. Just leaves that annoying little dime drop of oil on the ground.
 
Maybe the iron heads are not true anymore idk...Im going to give it one more go this summer. If i dont have any luck still after trying another set of valve covers I guess Ill just be stuck w a smooth running leaky turbov6...lol
 
Really...maybe i should try another set but just not get them powder coated?? You think that the powdercoating process could of possibly warped them or something...The car runs great otherwise. Just leaves that annoying little dime drop of oil on the ground.
I guess you can check them for flatness but I don't see how they'd warp. Is the inside lip broken off anywhere? What rocker hardware are you using? Is it possible it's not tightening down all the way?
 
I have valve covers from a different car that I had powder coated on my car and they are perfect. I don't think the powder coat is your problem. I hope you can get it figured out.
 
I got powder coated covers as well and they are from another FWD however those covers are all the same ... the TTA got the same covers and I got the list of what was reused by BOC building the engines and the valve covers where nothing special.

I have heard others had slight leak I think passannger side close to the firewall and they replaced the Felpro blue gaskets with GM originals and problem went away ..... I use Felpro gaskets and never had a problem.

Don't tighten down the covers to hard or they will crack where the acorn nut push down on them.
 
I could use a set of valve covers also. I had some off a lesabre I sold on here before I had a tta. Wish I wouldn't have. Lol
 
Thanks for all the input. I am leaning towards possibly the wrong rocker hardware not allowing the covers to sit far enough down. Dan Strezo at DLS assembled it and he mentioned he had to configure something to get the rockers right..I just don't remember exactly what he did, it's been a yr since I talked w him and he won't respond to my issue. I'll try the GM gaskets first though..worth a shot I guess. Just waiting for it to warm up before I go back at her.
 
I guess you can check them for flatness but I don't see how they'd warp. Is the inside lip broken off anywhere? What rocker hardware are you using? Is it possible it's not tightening down all the way?
Inside lip is good, I'll check them w a straight edge. They seem straight though.
 
Thanks for all the input. I am leaning towards possibly the wrong rocker hardware not allowing the covers to sit far enough down. Dan Strezo at DLS assembled it and he mentioned he had to configure something to get the rockers right..I just don't remember exactly what he did, it's been a yr since I talked w him and he won't respond to my issue. I'll try the GM gaskets first though..worth a shot I guess. Just waiting for it to warm up before I go back at her.
It's my understanding that Dan got out of turbobuicks. At least that's what I read on here. I heard he moved also. If he is still into them I'd like to know how to get in touch with him!
 
It's my understanding that Dan got out of turbobuicks. At least that's what I read on here. I heard he moved also. If he is still into them I'd like to know how to get in touch with him!
He's an asshole! Just stating a fact. He was fine to deal w until you paid him. Spent 10k on my build w him you would think he would work w you if your having issues after install but not the case. He answered first call I made, asked who was calling, I told him it was me and he hung up! Fucker just hung up and refuses to take my call. It runs smooth but was pushing crazy amounts of oil out the custom breathers he installed. Wouldn't do anything about it. I tamed it down w catch can and -12AN lines from each cover. Smokes at idle and startup...runs smooth though.. I would look at going to someone who's a lot more professional - backs their work up if there is a problem.
 
He's an asshole! Just stating a fact. He was fine to deal w until you paid him. Spent 10k on my build w him you would think he would work w you if your having issues after install but not the case. He answered first call I made, asked who was calling, I told him it was me and he hung up! Fucker just hung up and refuses to take my call. It runs smooth but was pushing crazy amounts of oil out the custom breathers he installed. Wouldn't do anything about it. I tamed it down w catch can and -12AN lines from each cover. Smokes at idle and startup...runs smooth though.. I would look at going to someone who's a lot more professional - backs their work up if there is a problem.
I bought a cam from him and had a couple questions but he wouldn't answer his phone. Then all the sudden it was just disconnected. Guess he moved or whatever. That sucks that your motor is blowing oil. What the heck could cause that? That would drive me crazy. Im the guy with the tta that you advised me on drag radials with. They look awesome on my tta by the way. My tta has smoked since I bought it so I feel your pain. New turbo didn't help.
 
He's an asshole! Just stating a fact. He was fine to deal w until you paid him. Spent 10k on my build w him you would think he would work w you if your having issues after install but not the case. He answered first call I made, asked who was calling, I told him it was me and he hung up! Fucker just hung up and refuses to take my call. It runs smooth but was pushing crazy amounts of oil out the custom breathers he installed. Wouldn't do anything about it. I tamed it down w catch can and -12AN lines from each cover. Smokes at idle and startup...runs smooth though.. I would look at going to someone who's a lot more professional - backs their work up if there is a problem.

Sound like you might be pressurizing the valley. Have had a few builds do that but don't know the specifics of your build. Hate to see people who work on these cars do things like that.
 
Sound like you might be pressurizing the valley. Have had a few builds do that but don't know the specifics of your build. Hate to see people who work on these cars do things like that.
Probably am. CP pistons installed w Carrillo stroker rods/crank. Rings not seating properly is my guess...idk
 
I'm running -12AN lines from ea valve cover to a catch can right now. That seemed to help but now im getting a thin film of oil from the back of the valve covers that coats the engine. That film then forms a tiny drip off the torque converter cover. I've tried sealing the covers to the heads 4 times already w all the same luck...Those covers just don't want to seal and yes it's driving me completely nuts! Lol
 
You mentioned you had a few do that, you rip the motor back apart at that point?

One was the intake did not seal right against the heads. Another was rings. Also check to make sure they did not port through the heads, have seen that also
 
One was the intake did not seal right against the heads. Another was rings. Also check to make sure they did not port through the heads, have seen that also
Im going to pull the covers back off and reinstall this time w the GM gaskets. Add engine oil dye and check for leaks. If they still are leaking from the covers and not from the maniold or heads, Im pulling the trigger on GN1 8 bolt heads and TA performance headers. Which I should of did in the first place seeing as I deleted my HVAC anyways now. Being a TTA and not a GN I was concerened those GN1 heads wouldnt of worked w the stock headers being different from ea other. With the blower motor and AC box out of the way now though I cant see it being a problem to run the GN1 heads w TA headers....If I can go this way w no fitment issues, then I can ditch the TTA covers and get GN four bolt valve covers instead.
 
Top