Topic: What's up with this Valve Cover?

[DJ_AX]

I recently scored a replacement valve cover...
Gasket surface looks fine... clean and flat...

Thought it all was in great shape until I got a closer look.

Check out the pictures below...
1. WhereItIs.jpg
I noticed these cracks on the inside by the tabs... they almost look like they might be just surface/stress cracks from casting.

2. CloseUpOfIt.jpg
Here's a close up of it

3. OnOutside.jpg
 I soda blasted the outside and saw no indication that it goes through... although the oxidation seemed so bad here it still looks like crap after that bit of blasting.

4. OthersideSoda.jpg
Here's a shot of a tab on the other side inside of the cover... I soda blasted it...

5. OthersideOutsideLine.jpg
With this one it looks like you can see a line of oxidization right where the crack might be.

On the note of oxidization... this looks like it's got it really really bad...

Is this thing a lost case? 

[tlbranth]

Pour a little something that's real thin like gasoline & see if it seeps through.

[LesterPiglet]

Looks run of the mill to me.

[Gordon]

Looks run of the mill to me.

+1

Look like regular casting marks to me.  Every sohc4 engine I've worked on has those in various places. 

[lucky]

Normal casting imperfections. Nothing abnormal.

[seanbarney41]

you've got a lot of sanding to do to get rid of the oxidation, but with a lot of elbow work, it should look fine, I've found red scotchbrite works great...

[DJ_AX]

Thanks...