MSgt Luttrell

I discovered last week when I got the A/C working on my '86 IROC, that I may not be able to run A/C on the new engine. To put a new A/C belt on I had to actually remove the driver's side valve cover in order to get enough slack on the A/C compressor to get the new belt on. With the new belt on and tensioned correctly, I only have around two inches of room between the top of the valve cover and the bottom of the compressor, and that's with the stock 1.5 ratio rocker arms. The new engine has 1.6 ratio rocker arms, with a taller valve cover, so it's going to be pretty close I think. I need to find a set of taller valve covers to take some measurements from, so I know where I stand; I'll do what I can to keep the a/c, but it may wind up being like my last two street rods, with the windows down during the summer.

Any of you guys running the taller valve covers with A/C? The car is an '86 IROC with a 305 and I'll be swapping in a 383 crate engine next year.

MSgt Luttrell

Got the answer from one of my gear head buddies, I'll share it here for anyone else that's wondering. The tall valve covers are 3 1/2" tall compared to the short valve covers at 2 1/2". Add in the fact that most aftermarket aluminum heads are 1/4" taller, where the valve cover mounts, than iron heads and it looks like I could have to lose the a/c in the search for another couple hundred horses.