Big block Valve cover suggestions?

-
demon322

demon322

FABO Gold Member
FABO Gold Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2007
Messages
542
Reaction score
98
Location
Arkansas
Wondering what you guys have had luck with on your race cars. I love the looks of these proforms but they leaked almost immediately and it is getting worse. Time to try something different. Lots of companies sell similar versions of those fabbed aluminum ones but that’s a lot of $ to guess wrong again. Also wasn’t positive if they were intended for stock heads or aluminum.

Just need some that will seal up on my iron heads and have breather holes.

Thanks in advance.
9AB67127-DF32-4478-85BA-13E538481786.jpeg
 
Sorry, it's not a bolt-on exactly, but I took a plate of like 1/4" 'hard' aluminum plate and cut a ring out of it, that slid over the oem valve cover, and over some studs I put in the tapped v. cover bolt holes. It acts like a big girdle, putting even clamping pressure on the cover & gasket, and TOTALLY stopped all the leaks on my 400ci 76 w200. It was kind of a hassle to create, but I was SO tired of smelling burning oil and ruined gaskets. I must have tried a half dozen different gasket designs. I even tried new exhaust gaskets with integral heat shields to keep the heat from cooking the outside bead of the v. cover gaskets. Nothing worked, until I came up with that fix.
 
I run the MPP black cast aluminum. They seal well and look good too
 
I have the Mopar Performance Black Wrinkle Cast Alum on my cars. There a tad heavy compared to the tin ones, but I have had no issues with them. Spend the extra money and get nice aluminum ones. These have thicker rails that will stay flat and will help with gasket leaks. Ever since switching to the Cast Alum ones I bought a set of Moroso Valve cover gaskets with the steel center and are reusable. Been on the car for many years without an issue and I usually check the valves once a year.
 
rustycowll69 said:
Sorry, it's not a bolt-on exactly, but I took a plate of like 1/4" 'hard' aluminum plate and cut a ring out of it, that slid over the oem valve cover, and over some studs I put in the tapped v. cover bolt holes. It acts like a big girdle, putting even clamping pressure on the cover & gasket, and TOTALLY stopped all the leaks on my 400ci 76 w200. It was kind of a hassle to create, but I was SO tired of smelling burning oil and ruined gaskets. I must have tried a half dozen different gasket designs. I even tried new exhaust gaskets with integral heat shields to keep the heat from cooking the outside bead of the v. cover gaskets. Nothing worked, until I came up with that fix.
Click to expand...

This is a pretty cool idea! Unfortunately I don’t have the skills or equipment to pull something like that off lol
 
roccodart440 said:
I run the MPP black cast aluminum. They seal well and look good too
Click to expand...
You’re talking about the finned ones I assume? I have always loved the looks of these! I thought they had been discontinued but after your post I see that Mancini lists them, but is out of stock. Of course there are also some sets listed on eBay for 400 and more. I’ve seen similar finned designs but just a blank rectangle in the center. I wonder if these would work just as well.
 
First, I really like those trickflow covers.
I am currently using moroso golds, with a coat of paint, and homemade load spreaders.
The next motor will have the die-cast summit covers. I bought the as-cast finish that have disappeared from the catalog. The ones they have now are polished and don't come with breather holes, though mine did.
I had to move the two top holes for the holddowns on mine, and I surfacee the gasket face to make sure they are flat.
I also have some heads with only four bolts..... they always leak, though I have a new technique to try.next time.
 
moparstud440 said:
I have the Mopar Performance Black Wrinkle Cast Alum on my cars. There a tad heavy compared to the tin ones, but I have had no issues with them. Spend the extra money and get nice aluminum ones. These have thicker rails that will stay flat and will help with gasket leaks. Ever since switching to the Cast Alum ones I bought a set of Moroso Valve cover gaskets with the steel center and are reusable. Been on the car for many years without an issue and I usually check the valves once a year.
Click to expand...
I agree, those fabbed aluminum ones are nice! I just wonder though - every set I’ve seen the mounting surface is completely flat, and also pretty wide. I think I even read on one they don’t recommend a gasket - just silicone? This style is very interesting but the mounting surface on these iron heads is very skinny. Has anyone used this type on stock heads? Or are they more for aftermarket aluminum?
 
Any alum valve cover. The thick rail won't distort & leak like your current thin pressed steel covers.
 
Just don't buy the Mancini ones. They were all milled wrong, most of the bolt holes didn't line up, and the finish was poor. I spoke to them multiple times about it and he checked all his stock and said all the rest were worse then the set I had. Because I was on a tight time frame and couldn't wait for another brand I ended up paying someone to relief cut the bolt holes so they were straight and washers would sit flat. Not going to upload all of the photos, but here are a couple of the blemishes that were all over them and a couple of the many offset holes.
IMG_20210319_193734.jpg
IMG_20210804_154904.jpg
IMG_20210804_155126.jpg
IMG_20211013_182703.jpg
 
It looks like op has an iron head motor, and valve covers fit very differently on a factory iron head than they do on aftermarket aluminum. See: valve cover holddown bolt angles. Iron head valve cover surfaces are also very uneven compared to aftermarket too.
 
Minnesota Muscle said:
Just don't buy the Mancini ones. They were all milled wrong, most of the bolt holes didn't line up, and the finish was poor. I spoke to them multiple times about it and he checked all his stock and said all the rest were worse then the set I had. Because I was on a tight time frame and couldn't wait for another brand I ended up paying someone to relief cut the bolt holes so they were straight and washers would sit flat. Not going to upload all of the photos, but here are a couple of the blemishes that were all over them and a couple of the many offset holes. View attachment 1715854225 View attachment 1715854226 View attachment 1715854227 View attachment 1715854224
Click to expand...

Oh wow! I see what you mean. That’s not quality at all. I went with a Mr. Gasket set. Will report on quality and fit when they get here.

CA469188-9A13-4121-8A72-7C509618B4E9.jpeg
 
33IMP said:
It looks like op has an iron head motor, and valve covers fit very differently on a factory iron head than they do on aftermarket aluminum. See: valve cover holddown bolt angles. Iron head valve cover surfaces are also very uneven compared to aftermarket too.
Click to expand...
That was a concern of mine for sure. Going to give them a shot and see. Some have said the thick rail actually helps. I hope so.
 
I've had my ebay fabricated aluminum valve covers on for 3yrs they would leak a little with my iron heads but they work very well the .y aluminum heads.
 
I really like the look of the big humpy stock ones through the mid 70s. They really look good.
 
Back when I was a machinist and had access to a mill, I would mill out much of the "pushrod bump" in the intake ports of 340/360 heads. But I would also mill flat the valve cover gasket surface of the heads. I only did 3 or 4 sets but I found all of them to have a high spot in the middle of both long edges. After I milled the gasket surface, it seemed to help them seal better with stock stamped steel valve covers.
 
Oh by the way has anyone seen what the asking price for Mopar performance cast valve covers run now? Freak show almost $500.00
 
Minnesota Muscle said:
Just don't buy the Mancini ones. They were all milled wrong, most of the bolt holes didn't line up, and the finish was poor. I spoke to them multiple times about it and he checked all his stock and said all the rest were worse then the set I had. Because I was on a tight time frame and couldn't wait for another brand I ended up paying someone to relief cut the bolt holes so they were straight and washers would sit flat. Not going to upload all of the photos, but here are a couple of the blemishes that were all over them and a couple of the many offset holes. View attachment 1715854225 View attachment 1715854226 View attachment 1715854227 View attachment 1715854224
Click to expand...
Besides there mess ups, that sheet aluminum scratches way to easy, very soft
If they get to ugly you can give them a new brushed look with a stainless steel brush.
 
i got some ansen valve covers to put on a small block, they are pretty nice. seem to be basically the same thing as the old mopar performance aluminum covers. i bet you could find them with a google search. i had a machine shop mill the holes for 1.22" id moroso grommets.
Mancini had them pretty recently but i don't see them now.

i do see these, they look alright..
Mancini Polished Aluminum Valve Covers
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top