Valve cover clearance

[496 polara]

So I noticed my valve cover hits the blower motor. Small clearance dings in valve cover,don't want to do any more. How much can you grind on that blower motor?

RB block with Trick Flow heads in 72 Duster.

 

[charger426]

The fix is to replace the blower motor with a smaller one. Below is what I used. If you don’t want to do that…. When I first put my 440 with trickflow heads (back before we knew the where taller) we had to grind down on the rocker shaft hold downs. Moved to the smaller motor when I did the body and paint. Was able to move to real cast aluminum valve covers I had so much room

Four Seasons/Trumark 35576​

 

["Dart67"]

So I noticed my valve cover hits the blower motor. Small clearance dings in valve cover,don't want to do any more. How much can you grind on that blower motor?

RB block with Trick Flow heads in 72 Duster.

Here You go.... Heater Box Motor Modification for Valve Cover Clearance

 

[Daves69]

Out of the box, maybe 1/4"-3/8" spacers for the K member?

 

[RustyRatRod]

Here You go.... Heater Box Motor Modification for Valve Cover Clearance

Really NICE article!

 

["Dart67"]

Really NICE article!

Thanks Rusty.

I did the original "How To" on bigblockdart.com back on January 3,2007.... It has since that time had 65,000 views....

I have just recently revisited the heaterbox mod and now have it with no motor to the outside of the box at all.. The motor is completely contained inside the heater box.

If I ever get caught up, I intend to post an updated on how to do that.

Herb aka "Dart67"

 

[Walkstep]

Thanks Rusty.

I did the original "How To" on bigblockdart.com back on January 3,2007.... It has since that time had 65,000 views....

Many thanks for the great article It did take about 40 hours to make the mods, restore the heater box, and reinstall it 4 or 5 times .

This is what the firewall side of the blower motor looks like now in my '68 Dart 383GTS, with Edelbrock Victor 440 heads and 440 Source aluminum valve covers. There is only about 3/4" clearance between the valve cover and the blower flange.

 

[mopower440]

Many thanks for the great article It did take about 40 hours to make the mods, restore the heater box, and reinstall it 4 or 5 times .

This is what the firewall side of the blower motor looks like now in my '68 Dart 383GTS, with Edelbrock Victor 440 heads and 440 Source aluminum valve covers. There is only about 3/4" clearance between the valve cover and the blower flange.

View attachment 1716474225

Man!!!That looks NICE!! How did you do this?

 

[mopower440]

The fix is to replace the blower motor with a smaller one. Below is what I used. If you don’t want to do that…. When I first put my 440 with trickflow heads (back before we knew the where taller) we had to grind down on the rocker shaft hold downs. Moved to the smaller motor when I did the body and paint. Was able to move to real cast aluminum valve covers I had so much room

Four Seasons/Trumark 35576​

Just ordered that blower motor, got any pics of how yours looks? Did you just replace the original or did you also do the mod with the new motor?

 

[Walkstep]

Man!!!That looks NICE!! How did you do this?

Thanks M, here are some pics of the project and a few notes:

I lengthened the heater core pipes and brazed on FPT threaded fittings to make up for the increased depth into the passenger compartment. I pressure tested the assembly in water before installing in the heater box.

This would not not be needed with the new mod Dart67 referenced that keeps the motor in the heated box (thanks Dart67!, can't wait to see). That would be preferred and make this a much easier and more functional upgrade. I still prefer the AN fittings for my builds.

I added foam pieces to the intake mating interface to make up for the offset of the heater box and used washers between the SS coupling nuts and the firewall to reduce the leverage the extension adds. I could shorten the SS stud length through the firewall to not need the rubber covers. Alternatively, i could have used bolts from the engine compartment side, but I work alone and it would have been harder to fit and install.

It all fit fine and is solid.