For some time now I've heard that superrams leak. Now I know why, it's because of idiot manufacturing processes. That's right, some dumbass in the processing stage of making the superrams needs to have his ass removed and sewn to his skull so he can't hide his identity any longer.

As some of you know, I got a used SR a few weeks ago. It had some years of oily residue and a bunch of gasket sealer remnants on the mating surfaces. As I began cleaning it up today(tues), I noticed how the lid DOES NOT lie flatly on the machined surface of the plenum. Upon closer examination I saw there was a casting knob in the center of the lid. this knob was about 1/8" higher than any other surface of the underside of the lid. As I examined the lid I saw that the gasket surfaces were only belt sanded, and quickly at that. I set the lid up on a granite surface plate and checked for flatness, knowing it wouldn't be too close, but lemme tell you, there was as much as .060 variation in the surface in less than 3" in some spots. There's no way in he11 this thing can seal. That's why these stupid lids don't seal! As we speak, I'm working with a friend at work to figure up a way to mill a decent surface onto this thing, but the entire lid is so warped I'm not sure how/where to hold the thing so It can be safely done. If I have to, I could go to a metal recycler and see if they have a piece of flat stock and make a new lid. But I don't wanna spend the $$. For now, it looks like we're gonna think tank this to try and salvage the lid. The adventure continues.........

Use lotsa bolts I guess.

bob, u crazy!!!

That sucks. I'm sure you can find a way to mill it. Perhaps you will have to weld on to it and then grind it down?

Keep us posted.

Matthew

I machined a lid out of a flat plate that was thicker, (I think it was .312" - 5/16" thick), just trace the OD of the crappy lid, cut it close on a band saw, then clean it up with a die grinder, and transfer the holes.

You can then polish it if you like a custom look, but Kevin will probably get jealous!

Wow, that's bad.

Going through getting some weldments at work redone.

I feel your pain.

Those lids are notorious for being leakers... they are junk.

Is it physically warped or is it a combo of bad castings and poor machining?

I had a guy lined up to water jet cut lids for everyone from 5/16" thick 6061 flat plate then they bailed on me.....

You can buy flat plate on the web and then cut it on a band saw,

this is what I did to mine after I cut the OD

Are the lids on them cast?

May be a moot point now if they aren't being manufactured anymore.

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Rick, you have no idea

Larry, Got the gaskets, they look great, thanks again!

Andy, The lid has a bit of warping. I think the major cause was the idiot on the belt sander. It's gone now, but there was a knob or casting tit on the underside of the lid. Whoever did it, took the lid and laid it on the belt sander and rocked it around to clean up the edges, and in the process, damaged the gasket surface with a lot of unevenness.
As I write this, I'm thinking I'm gonna go down to the recycler and see if they have a plate big enough to make one. In order to try to clean up this lid it'd take a good long time to get it shimmed right so you cut could it evenly. It would also remove a good bit of the lid thickness
as well. Wish me luck.

I've never had a lid leak in all of the ones I have owned or installed for others.... the first one that I did, I did have minor leaks on the plenum belly, but that was due to my own lack of experience at the time....

Having said that, most of the Superrams I owned or worked on had the Billet Lid, which has zero bend in it..... I recommend you find one if you can, LPE used to sell them, but I imagine they're discontinued as well.... but who knows, talk to the right guy and that might have one lying around on a shelf somewhere that you can buy. You'll know its a billet lid when you see it, just a smooth top, none of those straight grooves on top. I think you could drive over the billet lid and it would still be straight.

good luck !

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Glad someone could use them!