Center-bolt vs. 'Old Fashioned' Valve Covers

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Jun 19, 2002 | 10:15 AM

TedH

Thread Starter

Le Mans Master

Joined: Feb 1999

Posts: 8,351

Likes: 75

From: Tampa Bay FL

Center-bolt vs. 'Old Fashioned' Valve Covers

My new DART IE heads accomodate the center bolt valve covers as well as my 'standard' valve covers. I don't have a really radical cam (Crane Energizer 272H) and wonder if the center-bolt covers will accomodate. I also have stamped steel rockers, guideplates and screw-in rocker studs (not sure if a factor).

Do the center-bolt covers 'seal' any better? Also, I like the screw-in cap on the stock center-bolt covers (and chromed) since the aftermarket covers I have require that I fill the oil through the rubber pcv grommet (another leak-point that I'm not too happy with).

Your input welcome.

[Modified by TedH, 8:30 AM 6/19/2002]

Jun 19, 2002 | 01:15 PM

kgraumann

Racer

Joined: Mar 2002

Posts: 369

Likes: 1

From: Nowhere

Re: Center-bolt vs. 'Old Fashioned' Valve Covers (TedH)

The center bolt design valve covers are the best (IMHO). They are on my ZZ4 and they seal without any leakage. The Vortec motor on my pickup is of the same design, and have never leaked, and it has 219,000 miles on it. In fact the gaskets have never been changed or messed with. :yesnod:

Jun 19, 2002 | 01:48 PM

BeaterShark

Drifting

Joined: Sep 1999

Posts: 1,411

Likes: 1

From: Wylie TX

Re: Center-bolt vs. 'Old Fashioned' Valve Covers (TedH)

I have and have had center-bolt valve covers and I do believe that they seal better. The big downfall is that it is hard/expensive to find any kind of taller than stock centerbolts. I'm running about .580 lift and I finally found some valve covers that work when I double up the gaskets.

Jun 19, 2002 | 03:38 PM

0Mike69@ECS

Former Vendor

Joined: Apr 1999

Posts: 7,607

Likes: 1

From: ECS Sales & Service Advisor

Cruise-In III Veteran

Cruise-In V Veteran

Re: Center-bolt vs. 'Old Fashioned' Valve Covers (Chris A)

I really cant say for sure that the Centerbolts will seal any better, but I know you'll find more options (and cheper options as well) in the standard style. Cool Centerbolts are tough to find! :smash:

Jun 19, 2002 | 04:06 PM

Fevre

Race Director

Joined: Mar 2001

Posts: 11,322

Likes: 1

From: Living in the Hartland

Re: Center-bolt vs. 'Old Fashioned' Valve Covers (TedH)

You would think that after all the leaking problems one would have been designed with bolts in the four corners and maybe one middle of the horizontal runs. I don't have any experience (at least none that I know since I haven't looked that close at my truck v-6 covers) with the center ones so no input there.

Jun 19, 2002 | 04:21 PM

VetteNut72

Pro

Joined: Nov 2000

Posts: 594

Likes: 0

From: Tucson AZ

Re: Center-bolt vs. 'Old Fashioned' Valve Covers (Fevre)

Chevy small blocks had always been famous for leaky valve covers. They fixed it by going to a centerbolt design. Just like they always had rear seal leaks until they fixed that with the one piece rear main seal.

Jun 19, 2002 | 06:40 PM

dman535

Burning Brakes

Joined: Mar 2001

Posts: 1,211

Likes: 5

From: Nashville TN

Re: Center-bolt vs. 'Old Fashioned' Valve Covers (VetteNut72)

Here are some cool centerbolt SBC valve covers from out C4 brothers.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=1837261697

Jun 19, 2002 | 11:04 PM

Racer16k

Pro

Joined: Dec 2000

Posts: 531

Likes: 0

Re: Center-bolt vs. 'Old Fashioned' Valve Covers (TedH)

I used the 1989 Corvette valve covers with the screw in cap on my 73. I don't think they are much taller than stock though. They don't leak. I think the machined surface helps with that too. Don't your heads have a raised valve cover surface for increased clearance. I seem to remember reading that somewhere. I looked around for awhile for some cool center bolt covers, but ended up wanting these. I think they look pretty good on the 73. If you get the earlier center bolt valve covers with the 1/2 twist (two tabs) cap, I have a brand new cap I'd sell.