Should I dimple my aluminum valve covers or headers?

[Raw Untamed]

Just mounted my TTI 2" headers and it hits the valve cover on the passenger side.

Is it possible to dent or dimple aluminum valve covers?  If so, what tool should I use?

Thanks,

Joe

[jimynick]

Stamped, sheet aluminum, yes. Cast, thick section aluminum, no, unless you're a wizard with a torch. Ding/heat and bend the pipe. There's lots of research showing that dents to pipes don't make much difference until they're really large. Just my 

[72cudamaan]

Aluminum covers are usually cast. If you hit it hard enough to move the surface, it'll crack. Better to dimple the header if possible.

[Raw Untamed]

Thanks for the advice.  Maybe I should just dimple the header tube a little.

It is sheet aluminum and here is some more info:
http://store.440source.com/Valve-Covers-Fabricated-Aluminum-pair-USA-MADE/productinfo/200-1052/

[67vertman]

Just mounted my TTI 2" headers and it hits the valve cover on the passenger side.

Is it possible to dent or dimple aluminum valve covers?  If so, what tool should I use?

Thanks,

Joe

   How are the headers hitting the valve cover?  I have TTIs and the same valve covers, and they do not even come close to the valve covers.  Can you post a picture?

sorry, I don't have a picture of my passenger side.

[Raw Untamed]

vertman, sorry I didn't take a pic of it mounted up.  In your pic, see how the number 1 tube almost touches the valve cover before it turns downward?  Well, on the passenger side, the number 2 tube does that too, only it DOES hit my valve cover right there.

I was hoping it would be easy to dent or dimple the cover just a little, but maybe it's better to dent the header tube a bit.  I guess it's the combination of Victor heads on a 400 block. 

[Road_Runner]

vertman, sorry I didn't take a pic of it mounted up.  In your pic, see how the number 1 tube almost touches the valve cover before it turns downward?  Well, on the passenger side, the number 2 tube does that too, only it DOES hit my valve cover right there.

I was hoping it would be easy to dent or dimple the cover just a little, but maybe it's better to dent the header tube a bit.  I guess it's the combination of Victor heads on a 400 block. 

That is odd.  I've never heard anything bad about TTI's quality control, and mostly good things about 440 Source, but one or the other has got to be a little off for the two to come together.  Just odd.

Later, Jim

[Chryco Psycho]

Last time I checked Victors are a raised port head so yeah it could push the header high enough to hit

[dutch]

dont have time to search now, but I think beck had the same problem.... check his resto topic

[Raw Untamed]

Thanks guys, for all the suggestions.
Yeah, Beck welded a recessed portion into the side of his valve cover.  Was trying to avoid all that, as I don't have a tig to weld aluminum.

Also, I just found out my covers are not 440source, they are Procomp Electronics:
http://store.procompelectronics.com/p-2202-mopar-big-block-satin-tall-fabricated-valve-covers.aspx

Guess I should bend the tube a bit, just found this:
http://www.ttiexhaust.com/Footnotes/58.htm

[brads70]

Do you " need" that style of valve cover? I ask as I did using roller rockers. Other valve covers are not quite as wide and may just give you the clearance you need?
These are Indy plain covers and the sides are a little offset on the flange , maybe giving you the clearance you need?

[Raw Untamed]

Yes I need those covers for the big Hughes roller rockers.  Brad, you have some nice v/c.

[jimynick]

Joey, you COULD bend those covers as they're made out of sheet stock, but you'd probably warp them doing so and they'd leak all over those nice, new headers.  How much clearance is req'd? Could you bolt the headers to the head and using a wide lever, like an old spring leaf, wow the #2 pipe enough to do the job? Think about what ever you do, because the chance of warpage is everpresent. Good luck!

[StRoKeR]

Take a short fat round socket and put it on the valve cover area of concerns and wack the socket with a hammer until clearance is gained also take your time and the dent will look uniform/better looking with the socket instead of just pound it clear. double check the depth needed to clear wont interfere with your rockers inside 

[Mopar Thunder]

Not sure of the clearance your looking for or the TTI configuration but what about a header spacer?