14 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCH3.6l Damaged Cam Cover Repair?
Leading reported evidence
Check alignment
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
It will require machining of the hole on the end and will also need to be checked for alignment.
Leading evidence: 'Check alignment' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check alignment' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
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0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
I would buy a used cam cover and have it checked for alignment at a competent machine shop.
Check would require the head removed and cams removed
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
To use another cover, you have to have the cam bore journals checked and if out of spec would need to be adjusted, which just to check, would require the head removed and cams removed then the cover bolted back together to measure the bearing bore.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion · Original poster
Can anyone recommend machine shop near Pasadena, CA?
Check would require the head removed and cams removed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
To use another cover, you have to have the cam bore journals checked and if out of spec would need to be adjusted, which just to check, would require the head removed and cams removed then the cover bolted back together to measure the bearing bore.
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
To use another cover, you have to have the cam bore journals checked and if out of spec would need to be adjusted, which just to check, would require the head removed and cams removed then the cover bolted back together to measure the bearing bore.
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
I would go with having the damage welded on the cover from a professional aluminum welder, the hole for the rubber cap is not terribly critical and can be a little off, just use some silicon sealer to make sure no leaks, and possibly even bolt a retainer plate over the cap to keep it from popping out.
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
14 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261026T183130Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
I purchased a 3.6l from a 2003 C4S at a good discount from a reputable ebay seller that has a chunk missing from the 4-6 cylinder bank cam cover around one of the seals. What would be an economical and robust way to repair this and not have the seal leak? I attached a picture of the cam cover damage.
The issue with using a used cover is that the head and cam cover are line bored together since two journals for each cam are part of the cover. So a different cover could be used, but it would be risky.
I think either way, a new cover or welding, u would have to pull the head and have the seal surface machined. I dont think i would try alumiweld or jb weld in this situation.
just currious, do u know why that section is broken?
The car was in a rear end collision, I purchased it from a dismantler from Ebay. He had a video of the engine running before removal from the car and disclosed the damage. Can anyone recommend machine shop near Pasadena, CA?
I would buy a used cam cover and have it checked for alignment at a competent machine shop. If you repair the current one, you will be putting a lot of heat into it. It will require machining of the hole on the end and will also need to be checked for alignment.
It wouldn't surprise me if a unit off a different engine fit with little or no adjustment/machining.
To use another cover, you have to have the cam bore journals checked and if out of spec would need to be adjusted, which just to check, would require the head removed and cams removed then the cover bolted back together to measure the bearing bore.
I would go with having the damage welded on the cover from a professional aluminum welder, the hole for the rubber cap is not terribly critical and can be a little off, just use some silicon sealer to make sure no leaks, and possibly even bolt a retainer plate over the cap to keep it from popping out. The big brown plug has been notorious about popping out due to back pressure surges when hitting the rev-limit. Race teams such as TRG ( The Racers Group) ALWAYS bolted retainer plates over the big brown cap !!
It is nothing fancy, just a flat plate of 3/16 aluminum with two holes in to mount to existing threaded holes in the head. The holes are offset from the cam cap but still provides adequate tension on the cap since the backpressure surges are only a few PSI, but is enough to pop out the caps.
Surprised that no one has offered up 2-part epoxy (JB Weld etc.) as a solution. And I'm only half kidding. It wouldn't be pretty oh, but it would work.
For a car I planned on keeping for a long time, I�d attempt a fancy JB job. If I ever sold the car I would certainly be up front with it and let the price reflect what is definitely a new cylinder head
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