Stock valve covers wont work with roller rocker
03-11-2008, 04:17 PM
#1
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Stock valve covers wont work with roller rocker
I am just putting the finishing touches on the ZZ383 and I was hoping to use the stock magnesium valve covers from the 88 L98, unfortunately they dont fit.
(Rockers dont allow the valve covers to come all the way down to meet the heads) Has anyone else run into this problem and if so what have you done to get them to fit? I havnt really seen any center hold down valve covers that I like and I think the classic look of the originals is the way to go. Any help is always much appreciated. Thanks as always Tim
(Rockers dont allow the valve covers to come all the way down to meet the heads) Has anyone else run into this problem and if so what have you done to get them to fit? I havnt really seen any center hold down valve covers that I like and I think the classic look of the originals is the way to go. Any help is always much appreciated. Thanks as always Tim
03-11-2008, 04:20 PM
#3
Melting Slicks
"Search" is your best friend... but the gist of what you'll find is you've got to do some grinding to do on the stock covers (the oil drip tabs hit).
Good luck!
Good luck!
03-11-2008, 05:38 PM
#5
Safety Car
I am just putting the finishing touches on the ZZ383 and I was hoping to use the stock magnesium valve covers from the 88 L98, unfortunately they dont fit. (Rockers dont allow the valve covers to come all the way down to meet the heads) Has anyone else run into this problem and if so what have you done to get them to fit? I havnt really seen any center hold down valve covers that I like and I think the classic look of the originals is the way to go. Any help is always much appreciated. Thanks as always Tim
(Rockers dont allow the valve covers to come all the way down to meet the heads) Has anyone else run into this problem and if so what have you done to get them to fit? I havnt really seen any center hold down valve covers that I like and I think the classic look of the originals is the way to go. Any help is always much appreciated. Thanks as always TimI ran into the same issue with the tall springs (required for large solid roller) and the CC Pro Magnums when I first built my engine. I absolutely wanted to retain the factory magnesium covers, but they lasked ~1/8" from sealing to the valve cover (drip tabs wee completely gone long ago). I wound up ordering a set of perimeter to CB adapters from Scoggins & Dickey and machined out the CB conversions. This basically converted the adapters into simple spacers. The spacers use a captured o-ring to seal to the head
, with a factory type gasket sealing to the valvecover.The valve cover sits ~0.30" higher than factory, but is nearly undetectable to the naked eye. It worked well for me, and retains the stealth appearance.
Aaron
03-11-2008, 07:00 PM
#6
I know I'm going to get roasted... but when I ran into that problem a long time ago I cut the drip[ tabs and didn't help, then a friend suggested to take two gaskets and join them together, it worked for 7 years with slight dripping until I found a set of taller valve covers. At that time I couldn't find tall CBolt covers and that was my only option.
03-11-2008, 11:58 PM
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I know I'm going to get roasted... but when I ran into that problem a long time ago I cut the drip[ tabs and didn't help, then a friend suggested to take two gaskets and join them together, it worked for 7 years with slight dripping until I found a set of taller valve covers. At that time I couldn't find tall CBolt covers and that was my only option.
03-12-2008, 01:08 PM
#13
Slingshot
Any Photos ?
Dan - Do you have any photos of the valve cover modifications that you made to get them to fit? A picture is worth a thousand words....
Last edited by pmihaltian; 03-12-2008 at 01:09 PM. Reason: clarity
03-12-2008, 10:34 PM
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Thanks guys. after using the search page for agent86 I found the photo on page 13 or 14. I will be modifying the valve covers tonight.Thanks for all your help.
03-13-2008, 10:43 AM
#16
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Like the guys have said make sure that the tabs are your problems for fit. Just to make sure when we changed the top end out we went with taller VC but we didn't have any issues with the wiper motor but some on the front with the AC unit ended up grinding out some then easy. wro87
03-14-2008, 05:22 AM
#17
Cut tabs first! It's easy using a dremel. If that doesn't work you could either double gasket or go tall VC.
btw did you put in AFR 190? that is why my stock vc wouldn't fit.
And with my talls it's kissing the wiper motor (but still works) and has no issues with the A/C and alt/smog pump.
Good luck! Let us know how it's going.
03-14-2008, 04:22 PM
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St. Jude Donor '03
You don't have to cut em, just get a pair of vice grips and pinch / pop em off.
Keeps all that dust from cutting from dusting up your covers.
Keeps all that dust from cutting from dusting up your covers.
03-14-2008, 06:57 PM
#19
First, ensure that this is not a drip tab issue. If so, ignore my comments below.
I ran into the same issue with the tall springs (required for large solid roller) and the CC Pro Magnums when I first built my engine. I absolutely wanted to retain the factory magnesium covers, but they lasked ~1/8" from sealing to the valve cover (drip tabs wee completely gone long ago). I wound up ordering a set of perimeter to CB adapters from Scoggins & Dickey and machined out the CB conversions. This basically converted the adapters into simple spacers. The spacers use a captured o-ring to seal to the head , with a factory type gasket sealing to the valvecover.
The valve cover sits ~0.30" higher than factory, but is nearly undetectable to the naked eye. It worked well for me, and retains the stealth appearance.
Aaron
I ran into the same issue with the tall springs (required for large solid roller) and the CC Pro Magnums when I first built my engine. I absolutely wanted to retain the factory magnesium covers, but they lasked ~1/8" from sealing to the valve cover (drip tabs wee completely gone long ago). I wound up ordering a set of perimeter to CB adapters from Scoggins & Dickey and machined out the CB conversions. This basically converted the adapters into simple spacers. The spacers use a captured o-ring to seal to the head
, with a factory type gasket sealing to the valvecover.The valve cover sits ~0.30" higher than factory, but is nearly undetectable to the naked eye. It worked well for me, and retains the stealth appearance.
Aaron
03-14-2008, 07:21 PM
#20
Le Mans Master
Cut off the drip tabs or grind them off. If you try and bend them or pop them off, you run the risk of tearing out part of the cover. Others have tried this method, some with success and others with a destroyed valve cover.