OK….so I removed the cover. As you might expect the exhaust-side was filthy & had a lot of carbon buildup, but there was no sign of water on the exhaust side or vice-versa. Naphtha + a brass brush, followed by some naphtha-wet 400 grit, and the dish is clean.
So the question becomes "how much pitting is too much pitting?" Nothing is burned through, but the deepest corner seems pretty deep.
Thoughts?
I can get a NOS plate on eBay for $30…seems like a small price to pay for "insurance", but if you think this pitting isn’t too bad, maybe I’ll just re-use it.
What’s the verdict?