Hey guys how's it going? First post here kinda newbie, but here it goes. I had smoke coming from my engine, tracked it down to a leaky valve cover spilling onto exhaust. Well I go to changing the gaskets with rubber ones. After cleaning the block and covers of the old cork type gasket, I went to install the valve covers. Well the oil baffle broke off inside and doesn't go back together.

So I was wondering about getting some cheap chrome valve covers off Ebay. They are either 2 5/8 or 3 5/8 size. Anyone know the right size I should get? I'm thinking the 3 5/8 bigger styles one. Thanks in advance.

 

what year car? you can just get the regular valve covers, the tall size is typically for more rocker clearance for aftermarket rockers

 

Oh yeah that would help 1985 TPI motor all stock. Well thanks for the info I haven't changed the rockers so the smaller one makes sense now.

 

tpi motor means centerbolt valve covers doesn't it? just make sure on that one.

I went to taller valve covers, since they do no 'harm' that I know of, and if I do swap to a stud girdle, tall full roller rockers and polylocks, I don't have to go out and buy new valve covers again.

 

not necessarily. the 86 TPI wouldn't have centerbolt valve covers, since it would be 87-up that would have it.

 

Taller valve covers can get in the way of accessories such as the AC compressor.