Mario, thank you so much for the compliment and what is now a very timely bump.
I urge everyone who has a set of big block Mopar Performance valve covers to closely inspect the dog ears. This is a copy and paste of my post from last night / very early this morning on FaceBook which is self-explanatory.
My prior and current customers are fairly well aware of the meticulous and careful work I put into your parts. If you aren't, then take a look at the PhotoBucket link below for an introduction to how I became known as The Mistress of Metal. I take my job very seriously.
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IMPORTANT!!!!!! If you own or know someone with a set of big block M. P. valve covers, please take a moment to read this.
In purchasing any brand new part, a consumer has a reasonable expectation of quality. Though it's wise to inspect everything you install on your car, all defects are not always readily apparent.
Upon finishing the blasting on the second big block valve cover in a set I've been working on (today's Powder **** in fact) and looking them over for the last time in prep for their first color, I discovered a SERIOUS casting defect in the form of a hairline crack on the left front dogear -- see the photo. This isn't just some excess casting slag either.
In light of this and past / current customer Dave Ford recently discovering an even more severe crack in the same location upon initial installation of his brand new custom valve covers, today's discovery is very disappointing in more ways than one. This is his:
Unfortunately, M P corporate has no interest in seeing any of my photos or apparently doing anything for the benefit of my customers -- I've got 10 HOURS into the bodywork on the current set just cleaning up the typical crappy castings and blasting them in prep for powder (see
http://s207.photobucket.com/user/Ph...MPLE PHOTOS/Kevin P Big block MP Valve Covers ) [which I learned renders them "modified" by the way, apparently voiding any warranty] -- but at least Summit and Jeg's agreed to inspect a few random sets of big block M.P. valve covers in their inventory.
A closer inspection of the only other big block cover in line in the shop right now revealed it's from the same mold as evidenced by a large chunk of missing metal on the edge of the dogear. This one is a stray I had on hand, and the plan was to customize it and replace Dave's broken one with it ... but now I'm not so sure. It's black wrinkle from the factory so God only knows what horrors are hiding under that thick paint until it gets blasted (it'll be a LOT of them if it's typical) ... and then it'll be "modified" and they won't be interested in making it right then either.
Though I hope I'm wrong in assuming this is a widespread factory defect, the fact remains that
I have personally seen two serious flaws in less than three months in the same spot with the very real possibility of a third, and it looks likely that even quality aluminum welding isn't going to fix it.
If the aftermarket companies' QC inspectors DO find something amiss in their current inventory, I hope and pray they have a lot more influence over the corporate guys than little PSC does. It's a major problem that can sadly only be remedied on the factory level.
In the meantime, if you have a set of these big block valve covers on your car whether they've ever lived in my workbench for awhile or not, I urge you to inspect the dogears closely, especially if you bought them within the last year and
most especially if you've been chasing an inherent leak.
The ones in
today's Powder **** album say "Made in California" on the inside but Dave's don't -- beware ladies and gentlemen, and please help spread the word to your Mopar friends.
Per Ken at Summit, if you do find a crack or suspect yours may be defective and bought them ONLY within the last 90 days (beyond that you're SOL folks), Summit will EXCHANGE THEM for another set in their inventory ... but between you and me, please keep in mind you might just be getting more of what you've already got.
From a strictly personal viewpoint, I believe it's a sad state of affairs when the manufacturer's phone rep isn't inclined to forward my concerns to someone who matters or make arrangements to pull a couple sets and take a look. If I ever get to where I'm some intouchable bitch who won't listen to you when you have a problem, then somebody do all of us a favor, smack me upside the head a couple times and demand that I close my doors. Business should not operate that way in my opinion, and ignoring customers and colleagues in such a fashion does nothing to support or enhance the industry as a whole.
Thank you all for taking a moment to read this and share it with those you know! The only way we're going to get the factory's attention is to produce overwhelming and sufficient evidence of the defects, so if you have any pictures or info to share with me, please feel free to do so in any manner you wish.
CudaChic1968@aol.com
PhoenixSpecialtyCoatings@yahoo.com
Leanna Lynn Johnson on FaceBook
Phoenix Specialty Coatings fan page on FaceBook
It sure livened up that engine bay! (Now we gotta do something about that leaky intake lol)
