the other day i noticed oil bubbling around the header flange on the front of the head after the engine was hot....at first i thought it was just the valve cover seal leaking, because i knew for a fact it was....my best guess was dripping oil was getting caught on the lip and burning off. but i changed the seal 3 days ago and im still getting the same minor leak/bubbling oil (its in between the headers for cylinders 1 & 2) as i was before...

any ideas of the culprit...im really hoping its not a warped head...

 

I know you're hoping it's not a warped head... that's why I'm sorry to tell you, that's probably what it is.

However, there is hope. The head can be resurfaced. Any machine shop would probably do it, and it wouldn't be too expensive. Or, if you really know what you're doing, you could resurface it yourself.

 

I'd recheck your valve cover reseal job before you start with the Macaulay Culkin routine.
Oil leaks from the top down
And there's enough pliability in the new Valve Cover seal to ensure sealing if done correctly. Some old material get caught under the seal while reassembling?
A warped head is critical at the head/block seam (below the exhaust ports), and any leaks from that spot would leak downward, away from the header flange,

P

 

thats whats got me confused, theres no chance its the valve cover seal leaking, ive checked it daily and its fully sealed, and theres no traces of oil dripping down onto it... so my guess is the heated oil is bubbling over even though the leak is slightly below the headers?

 

clean the area real good, put some oil dye in the oil, run car and see where the leak is at ..