I hate buying things that I can make myself... I also love to "Home-Brew" about anything in the way of parts and pieces for my projects.
This project actually started about 18 or 19 years ago when we lived in Central Illinois. It got put on hold and forgotten about when I retired and then moved to West Central Arkansas.
I am in the process of a complete rebuild of my 440/512. While looking for some spare parts, I found the "rails" for the valley pan project that had been in storage and forgtten. I figured now would be a very good time to complete this long forgotten project.
So here we are...
The "rails" are 1/2" x 1 1/12" aluminum flat bar. They are cut to length to fit between the china rails. One edge is machined to the angle of the underside of the heads. Five holes are drilled and tapped for 1/4" x 20 x 1/2" stainless button head bolts.
The pan is 1/8" x 8 3/4" x 19 1/2". The edges of the pan next to the heads is notched to clear the underside of the intake manifold ports as well as angled to match the rails.
To assemble on the engine, Start by bolting a rail to one side of the pan with five 1/4" x 20 x 1/2" stainless button head bolts.
For final assembly coat the angled surface of the rails and china rails with a thin coat of Permatex Right Stuff gasket maker.
Then screw about a 4" long 1/4" all thread into the center hole of the other rail. Lay the rail in the lifter valley with the all thread pointing up.
Place the pan and assembled rail under the head and insert the all tread through the bottom of the center hole of the pan.
Raise the rail and lower the pan at the same time to pull the rail into place.
Then start a 1/4" x 20 x 1/2" stainless button head bolt in each end and tighten them to pull the pan and rail together.
Install the six 1/4" x 20 x 1/2" stainless button head bolts in the front and rear holes. Remove the all thread. Install the rest of the 1/4" x 20 x 1/2" stainless button head bolts in the rail.
Done.....
Herb aka "Dart67"
This project actually started about 18 or 19 years ago when we lived in Central Illinois. It got put on hold and forgotten about when I retired and then moved to West Central Arkansas.
I am in the process of a complete rebuild of my 440/512. While looking for some spare parts, I found the "rails" for the valley pan project that had been in storage and forgtten. I figured now would be a very good time to complete this long forgotten project.
So here we are...
The "rails" are 1/2" x 1 1/12" aluminum flat bar. They are cut to length to fit between the china rails. One edge is machined to the angle of the underside of the heads. Five holes are drilled and tapped for 1/4" x 20 x 1/2" stainless button head bolts.
The pan is 1/8" x 8 3/4" x 19 1/2". The edges of the pan next to the heads is notched to clear the underside of the intake manifold ports as well as angled to match the rails.
To assemble on the engine, Start by bolting a rail to one side of the pan with five 1/4" x 20 x 1/2" stainless button head bolts.
For final assembly coat the angled surface of the rails and china rails with a thin coat of Permatex Right Stuff gasket maker.
Then screw about a 4" long 1/4" all thread into the center hole of the other rail. Lay the rail in the lifter valley with the all thread pointing up.
Place the pan and assembled rail under the head and insert the all tread through the bottom of the center hole of the pan.
Raise the rail and lower the pan at the same time to pull the rail into place.
Then start a 1/4" x 20 x 1/2" stainless button head bolt in each end and tighten them to pull the pan and rail together.
Install the six 1/4" x 20 x 1/2" stainless button head bolts in the front and rear holes. Remove the all thread. Install the rest of the 1/4" x 20 x 1/2" stainless button head bolts in the rail.
Done.....
Herb aka "Dart67"
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