Valve Cover Spacer Clearance?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Georgia
Valve Cover Spacer Clearance?
I had to order some one inch valve cover spacers to fit the poly locks on my roller rockers. Does anyone know if the valve covers will have any clearance issues with the alternator or anything else?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,060
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From: Pasco WA
I don't know about your spacers, but I tried to mount a set of tall fabricated covers, and the driver's side wouldn't clear w/o grinding either the mount, or the covers. Kind of defeated the purpose, so I use stock.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,904
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From: Vancouver Washington
I had to used extra thick gaskets to get my stock covers to fit some Jesel rockers I installed and there wasn't enough clearance on the alternator to go more than about 3/16" if I remember right.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,060
Likes: 291
From: Pasco WA
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
I have the Lunati Voo Doo roller rockers with the poly locks that are stud mounted but they dont come with the studs and they require guide plates, neither of which are mentioned on their site, nor do they mention they dont fit under the stock valve covers. And when I called them, they recommeded I put an adapter and run small block 350 style valve covers, whatever...wouldnt recommend and wouldnt buy again soley based on the way they do business.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,484
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From: Torrance Calif
I haven't installed my Comp Cams #1500 rollers because of interference with the ignition coil under the alternator.
I am considering a coil relocate kit.
FYI 1/2" spacer from Jegs.
I do run this system in my CTS-V with an LS6 which has even less room, but it all fit.
I am considering a coil relocate kit.
FYI 1/2" spacer from Jegs.
I do run this system in my CTS-V with an LS6 which has even less room, but it all fit.
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Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,484
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From: Torrance Calif
Very tight.
Someone told me an alternator and bracket from an earlier year (01) has more clearance.
I measured it and I think if I replace the coil mounting bolt I might get the 1/2" clearance for the Jegs spacer.
Last edited by heavymetals; Aug 16, 2013 at 02:52 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,904
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From: Vancouver Washington
My interference isn't with the bracket, but with the distance from the alternator to the coil mounting bolt.
Very tight.
Someone told me an alternator and bracket from an earlier year (01) has more clearance.
I measured it and I think if I replace the coil mounting bolt I might get the 1/2" clearance for the Jegs spacer.
Very tight.
Someone told me an alternator and bracket from an earlier year (01) has more clearance.
I measured it and I think if I replace the coil mounting bolt I might get the 1/2" clearance for the Jegs spacer.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 535
Likes: 0
From: CA
why not just run stock rockers with either bushings or trunion upgrades? You can cut the coil bracket where the #1 coil sits, you can then move it up and weld its so it kinda looks like:
-C- _C_C_C_ If you get my drift. You will need a longer wire if you do it that way though.
To much headache for me, especially when you consider all the aftermarket rocker failures (ether from manufacture error or operator/ install error).
-C- _C_C_C_ If you get my drift. You will need a longer wire if you do it that way though.
To much headache for me, especially when you consider all the aftermarket rocker failures (ether from manufacture error or operator/ install error).
Last edited by 69SSC5; Aug 16, 2013 at 05:10 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,484
Likes: 27
From: Torrance Calif
why not just run stock rockers with either bushings or trunion upgrades? You can cut the coil bracket where the #1 coil sits, you can then move it up and weld its so it kinda looks like:
-C- _C_C_C_ If you get my drift. You will need a longer wire if you do it that way though.
To much headache for me, especially when you consider all the aftermarket rocker failures (ether from manufacture error or operator/ install error).
-C- _C_C_C_ If you get my drift. You will need a longer wire if you do it that way though.
To much headache for me, especially when you consider all the aftermarket rocker failures (ether from manufacture error or operator/ install error).
If you get quality stuff, you usually won't have problems.
I haven't seen any failures on the 1500 system.
I got away with a 1/2" spacer, but I had to Dremel out every boss in the stock valve cover.
Last edited by heavymetals; Aug 16, 2013 at 05:29 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 122
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From: Georgia
These rockers seem pretty good quality and my geometry is dead on, and it's too late to go back to stock and I am on a tight time schedule since I need to get the vette ready to ship to Germany soon. My stock size wires look like they will just reach, and the covers are good on the passenger side and it looks like they will fit under the alternator but Im not so sure about the coil brackets and I dont want to relocate. I think I could have gotten away with a 3/4 inch spacer though.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Georgia
Well I got the spacers, and they are tight but they will barely squeeze in there under the alternator. However the coils aren't even close to fitting under it. Im a little torn on what to do. I think I did overestimate on the size of spacer I needed, I think Im going to try the 1/2 inch, but that will probably have the baffle making contact with the poly locks. It looks like the mounts for the coils can be ground down some and then I could use smaller bolts.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 122
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From: Georgia
Hey, are you running poly locks? This is getting really frustrating, I know a guy that is really good at welding so maybe I can have him cut off all the bosses and move them back an inch or so and weld them back on the cover to clear the alternator, I don't really wanna relocate my coils. I like them where they are and plus I want to put my covers back on..
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,484
Likes: 27
From: Torrance Calif
Hey, are you running poly locks? This is getting really frustrating, I know a guy that is really good at welding so maybe I can have him cut off all the bosses and move them back an inch or so and weld them back on the cover to clear the alternator, I don't really wanna relocate my coils. I like them where they are and plus I want to put my covers back on..
I Dremeled out every boss and baffle in the valve cover, then had to install a "catch can" as the oil was being sucked out of the vent hole.
You might want to check that coil relocation as it does what you want without the fuss, but with a 1" spacer I don't think you have a choice.
I measured the clearance in the pic I posted and I have just about 1/2" which will clear if I remove the mounting bolt from the coil.
I use a 1/2" spacer.
What I am considering is removing the coil mount bolt and replacing it with a "T" nut (in the coil hole) and installing a bolt the other direction.
That will still "hold" the coil and give me clearance.
What is a hoot is that my CTS-V had more room(!)
What I didn't tell you is that with the 1500 system (shown) I had to also increase the pushrod holes in the heads or they would rub on the sides.
The geometry puts the pushrod nearer the fulcrum point.
Where there is a will................
The picture below is the 1500 in my V.
Last edited by heavymetals; Aug 25, 2013 at 01:12 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 122
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From: Georgia
Yeah, Im gonna bite the bullet and buy the half in spacer and hopefully it will work. Now I just gotta sell this one inch spacer, Im sure someone out there can use it. If I had an F body it probably would have been just fine. At least I did get the motor running today, was kinda nervous about that since I built this engine from scratch. Thanks for the pic though, and that's a good idea to run the bolt in from underneath, I think I will try that too.