I am going to need to find a set of new or used center-bolt valve covers for my car before 8p.m. Saturday night for my 1.6 roller rockers to bolt in. My friend told me I'd need to replace my stock valve covers with taller covers.

My problem has been finding a set of covers with the 4 center-bolts that are taller than what I have now. So far I've found some but they're over $200 and I'm not paying $200-$300 for some taller covers.

I've found alot of shorter style sbc center-bolt covers for good prices but nothing taller to give my new roller rockers room to move.

If anyone knows of a auto place for me to buy these let me know because these roller rockers are some awesome performance parts for my car. Thanks.

 

Short aftermarket covers will clear RR's.

Get these. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-G3314/

 

I've heard that some 1.6 roller rockers won't clear the stock valve covers. I also have 1 hole on the passenger valve cover and 2 holes on the driver side for the PVC valve & the oil cap on that side too.

The brand roller rockers I have are Scorpion Performance.

 

I have the TransDapt tall valve covers on my IROC-Z. The are centerbolt, about 1.25" taller than stock and IIRC, they cost about $135. I did have to use a hole saw to cut the opening for my oil filler tube. The TD filler tube accepts the OE oil cap. I also didn't like having the fill tube wobble around on the valve cover so I cemented it in place with Right Stuff. These covers look very clean and the raised fill tube is alot more convenient than the stock oil fill was. You can find these covers at Summit Racing.

 

What do you think of these? I found them on Ebay and they're priced just right for me. They are the center-bolt style plus they have the places for the PVC hook-up's (no place for oil cap but I can fill oil via the PVC hole) and are tall enough for my 1.6 roller rockers to move.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SBC-B...item588708f13b

 

are your rockers the narrow body ones?

 

That's a good question, I don't know. My friend has them at his house waiting for me to buy them, so I am not entirely sure.

 

These are the ball milled version of the same covers I have. I went with the smooth finish. Theyll work fine. Be aware of something: It was difficult to install these covers as the silicone gasket would not stay in place. I used large paperclips to fasten the gasket to the cover while setting the covers in place then simply removed the clips once the the cover was down over the head. This worked very well.

 

One other thing. I believe that only narrow body rockers will fit our centerbolt heads.

 

Yeah, these are the narrow kind. As for the other comment you mentioned about the valve covers, I've got a really good guy doing most of the work for me, so he'll make them stick. I did order those valve covers though and for $60 you can't beat that! Most of them cost $120 new at the parts shops around here and that's for the ones that aren't center-bolts.

 

Dont use adhesive on silicone gaskets. The paper clip trick worked. Just keep that in mind. That was a good price. Less than half what I paid.

 

I learned this one the hard way. Tried to take them off after only a month, had to pry so hard my stock covers are trash now. Tried to bend them back into shape, but it didnt work and leaked oil all over my spark wires so those arc now.

I've been wondering about those cheap ebay covers. Does anybody here have them? Are they leaky junk?

 

I have these http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SBC-S...Q5fAccessories on my truck. The only thing I did not like was it did not have any holes for the oil filler cap or the pcv valve. Do not use a hole saw. Use a knock out tool.

 

I had this same issue. I got edelbrock alumimum ones which summit has as their inhouse brand in the link above, and cut most of the center supports out. This allowed the covers to clear the oversize valvesprings and rockers. Since theyre aluminum, they are still plenty strong enough to bolt down properly without the supports.

 

Or just use a funnel thru the PCV inlet.

 

If you click the link on the ones I bought guys, it shows the holes on each valve cover for the PCV valves. No hole for the oil cap but that's easily remedied by using the PCV valve hole.

I appreciate all the feedback!

 

Another thing I noticed was that I'm going to have to cut or bend those AIR pipes on my passenger side off or back because the taller valve cover on that side will not fit unless done so. I'll take pictures and some video once the covers are on though. I haven't gotten my headers yet, so that's why I still have half of the AIR system still on the car even though it's hacked.

 

I have the tail valve covers and the Edelbrock headers with the secondary air injection tubes on my camaro. With a litle bit of bending and a longer hose for the tube going to the cat. They go on and off with out a problem.

 

My car is registered as a custom show car so DEQ, and thus emissions equipment is not an issue.

I had a problem with my TD tall valve covers. The covers interferred with the Comp Cams Gold Race rockers on my TFS Twisted Wedge heads. Only on the intake side. I had to relieve the intake rockers .020 on the pushrod side to clear the covers. I of course checked clearances carefully before installation. Still missed this. Fortunately, I sample fit one side and fired the motor. Shut it down immediately when I heard the contact noise.

Still removed the head to verify no piston or valve damage. Am happy I did pull the head. My high revving 355 after 22K miles is like brand new inside. Wouldnt have known this if I hadnt torn it down.

This interferrence shouldnt be an issue on OE heads and valvetrain. However, if your running anything at all exotic, be sure to double and triple check clearances. I too removed alot of the webbing around the 4 mounting bolt tubes to prevent interferrence with my large, canted valve springs and roller rockers.

 

I'll remember this!