Valve Covers for Roller Rockers

[racprops]

I am running these steel roller rockers and I feel the stock valve covers will not work, the oil breather especially feels like it will make contact with a couple of rockers it is between.

Am I right??

Suggestions on what covers I need?? I think SBC Center bolt Aluminum Valve covers are needed.

Anyone got used set to are willing to part with??

Rich

 

[Grumpy]

you might be correct some valve covers will not allow use of roller rockers and the extended lock nuts

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you've got dozens of options

btw the engine looks very nice, remember to check for valve cover too accessory and valve cover to master cylinder clearance etc.

 

[racprops]

Thanks for the reply.

I kind of went bit over kill in stuff, but it seems a modern engine like my 03 Fords 4.6 have such improvements even for a engine that cannot reach 6K.

And as I lost a rocker stud in a solid OEM Stock OLDS 350 back in the 90s, and I was not able to install the engine due to the summer beating me to it, I foolestly asked my machine shop to do screw in studs which took over a year to get corrected, and cost two to three times what I expected as the did a full valve job as well. I figured I might as well go the full boat.

As for clearance this is going in a 93 Chevy G20 Van...none the less I will be checking for how much a problem a tall cover might cause.

From my earlier fitting I think once the valves are all adjusted my only concern is the oil strainer thingys fitting between a couple of rockers and the internal braces which I believe will not be a part of a aluminum cover.

I fully plan on getting her in this spring.

Rich

 

[rlphvac]

My Vette motor with roller rockers takes the deeper valve covers and the main thing in the way is the master cylinder

 

[racprops]

My only concern will be the walls: How tall are the taller covers?

 

[racprops]

The answer is not to raise the Bridge but to lower the water:

The problem is the stupid tall locking nut:

They are why my rocker covers do not fit. And as I am NOT adding a rocker stud cradle, so the also dumb too tall valve covers are over high and a problem.

SO I looked around and bought Crower Engine Rocker Arm Nut 86050S-16; Sure-Lock Short 7/16"-20 .600" They are Rocker Arm Nut Height: .865" Instead of 1.25 tall.

Crower even said, lower to fit valve covers: Notes: Short Design for Valve cover Clearance.

I found it very hard to find any replacement covers that matched my needs for a oil filler, PVC on drivers side and one PVC on passenger's side.

Rich

 

[racprops]

And a new one showed up, the cross braces in the factory valve covers hit the rockers, so I removed part of them to get a good fit:

 

[racprops]

Well I have tried to be honest about every step of my life.

I was wrong about the valve roller rockers and their tall locking adjustment nuts.

Once I cut away the longer support strap, and test fitted the covers, what I thought was the covers NOT dropping fully on to the heads was NOT the nuts BUT the valve covers 4 hold down bolt guild TUBES.

These guild tubes are made to allow only enough closing pressure to seal with the gasket and NO MORE. They are to prevent over tightening and mushing out the gasket.

So I have wasted a week and a lot of fuss over these rocker lock bolts.

When I got the short valve cover clearance locking nuts I still seemed to have something keeping the valve cover from sitting fully on top of the head.

SO I pulled all the nuts and the roller rockers off the heads and OMG the covers still were not dropping all the way down and still rocked back and forth on something.

It was these damn guild tubes.

I test both pairs of stock covers I have on hand and one set were a little tighter so I am cleaning them up.

IN my defense I have never worked on a late model Chevy 350 engine with these four center line bolt down valve covers, my 74 and 78 Chevy vans all has the old style rim bolt down valve covers. These older more common covers (from 1955 to say 1985) were prone to gasket mashing and leaks at the old covers bolt down system.

BUT they did sit full down on the heads, unlike these new covers that apparently do not.

Anyway here is my latest new thing I learned.

Rich

 

[Grumpy]

thank you for posting the info and linked pictures as its sure to help, or be helpful to some members .

 

[racprops]

Thanks, that is why I posted this. I did not know how the newer covers worked and fitted.

I thought it was the after market roller rockers tall locking nuts.

I was wrong.

Rich

 

[Grumpy]

my 1996 vette has similar valve covers, keep in mind the accessory brackets on a vette make use of taller valve covers almost impossible, but most roller rockers will fit & function, I installed CRANE 1.6:1 ratio roller rockers DESIGNED for the application