heads
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,424
Likes: 1,458
From: Little Rock AR
The covers fit the heads fine but the full roller rockers can cause interference. The oil mist baffles in the covers will likely hit the rockers. Those baffles are important to keep oil inside the engine and not all over the place outside the engine. The poly lock nuts can also hit the rockers because thay are too high depending on what style you are using.
Comp cast roller tip rockers will clear everything but your valve spring pressure must not exceed 350 pounds at full lift. Many roller cam spec'd valve springs will exceed that limit so you need to remember to check that. The roller tip rockers will burn up above that 350# over the nose limit.
Comp cast roller tip rockers will clear everything but your valve spring pressure must not exceed 350 pounds at full lift. Many roller cam spec'd valve springs will exceed that limit so you need to remember to check that. The roller tip rockers will burn up above that 350# over the nose limit.
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 31
Likes: 7
Nice looking engine. What type of headers did you use? How was the fitment? Do you have straight or angle plug heads? Finally, How is the performance improvement over stock engine? Have a GREAT day! Pappy
PS>. my vette is a 1973 L-82 4spd, 3:55 rear, edelbrock 2101 intake, 1406 600 cfm carb, and electronic ignition.
PS>. my vette is a 1973 L-82 4spd, 3:55 rear, edelbrock 2101 intake, 1406 600 cfm carb, and electronic ignition.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 2,550
Likes: 2,009
From: Minnesota
Nice looking engine. What type of headers did you use? How was the fitment? Do you have straight or angle plug heads? Finally, How is the performance improvement over stock engine? Have a GREAT day! Pappy
PS>. my vette is a 1973 L-82 4spd, 3:55 rear, edelbrock 2101 intake, 1406 600 cfm carb, and electronic ignition.
PS>. my vette is a 1973 L-82 4spd, 3:55 rear, edelbrock 2101 intake, 1406 600 cfm carb, and electronic ignition.
I have Doug’s stainless steel headers and side pipes. The heads are straight plug and have no fitment issues. The first picture has a 2101 intake, but the second is a 2601 air gap. Works well with the factory 800 CFM Quadrajet.
Despite starting with an L48 and still having a 3.08 rear end I’m very satisfied with the performance, a huge difference over stock. Although it’s a bit of a stopgap while I’m building a whole new powertrain from scratch.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 31
Likes: 7
heads
1973 L-82 3:55 rear, 4spd - suggestions on a cam (drivable idle - not too much lope) along with AFR eliminator 180 64cc heads. How about adding electric fan. ready replaced radiator with a dewitt’s. pappy
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 2,550
Likes: 2,009
From: Minnesota
Here’s a link to a thread about upgrades for an L82. I believe I linked it in your other thread too.
Short version is keeping the stock L82 cam since it’s already a pretty good factory piece, but advancing it 4 degrees to give you more low to mid range power. Add on some 1.6 ratio rockers and it will feel like a whole different engine. With its 114 degree LSA it will have a pretty smooth idle too.
Here’s the thread about aluminum radiators and electric fans. Keep in mind you’ll need to get a better alternator and beef up its wiring to compensate for the extra electrical load the fans add. Personally if you’re not having any issues with the clutch fan setup I would leave it the way it is.
Short version is keeping the stock L82 cam since it’s already a pretty good factory piece, but advancing it 4 degrees to give you more low to mid range power. Add on some 1.6 ratio rockers and it will feel like a whole different engine. With its 114 degree LSA it will have a pretty smooth idle too.
Here’s the thread about aluminum radiators and electric fans. Keep in mind you’ll need to get a better alternator and beef up its wiring to compensate for the extra electrical load the fans add. Personally if you’re not having any issues with the clutch fan setup I would leave it the way it is.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 2,550
Likes: 2,009
From: Minnesota
Last edited by Piersonpie; Mar 17, 2026 at 01:31 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,195
Likes: 632
From: Thunder Bay
I tried installing a set of LT-1 valve covers on a set of aluminum heads years ago with less than overwhelming success. (I'm pretty sure the L-82 covers are the same except for colour.) Yes there is a good chance that the covers will not clear roller rockers, but there may be another problem. The LT-1/L-82 covers have a groove to capture the gasket whereas the stamped steel covers only have a lip around the outside. I found the inner lip on the LT-1/L-82 covers interfered with the wider gasket surface on the aluminum heads I was working with. Since then I have seen extra thick valve cover gaskets that may resolve this problem, but you may want to do further research before investing in the heads.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 676
Likes: 328
From: Aubrey TX
These gaskets work very well on my L82 with stock valve covers and edelbrock heads
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speed...mpaign_8602783
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speed...mpaign_8602783