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SBC valve cover adapters

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by colorado51, Jan 23, 2007.

  1. colorado51
    Joined: Feb 24, 2003
    Posts: 1,576

    colorado51
    Member

    Does anyone make adapter plates to mount the old "staggered hole" small block chevy valve covers to newer heads with "straight across" mounting holes?

    Thanks

    Dave
     
  2. manicmechanic
    Joined: Sep 27, 2006
    Posts: 210

    manicmechanic
    Member

    I know someone makes valve cover spacers. I think they about 1/4" in thickness. Their might be someway of fabricating your own adapter.
     
  3. HEATHEN
    Joined: Nov 22, 2005
    Posts: 8,593

    HEATHEN
    Member
    from SIDNEY, NY

    All you'd have to do is buy a pair of spacers for the '59-'86 heads and drill and tap two holes, since two of the four will still line up. Countersink the two bolt holes in the spacers that the early style covers don't line up with and you're set.
     
  4. hotrod54chevy
    Joined: Nov 7, 2003
    Posts: 1,590

    hotrod54chevy
    Member
    from Ohio

    if you're just trying to run the script valve covers they did make sets that werent staggered bolt..i decided to spend the $10 on a set since the price of the adapters just didnt suit me
    creepy
     

  5. Shaggy
    Joined: Mar 6, 2003
    Posts: 5,207

    Shaggy
    Member
    from Sultan, WA

    On a similar one where can they be bought cheap i'm trying to fit aluminum late 60's hi-po covers, like the z/28 style over roller rockers and a high lift cam and am probably gunna need some space
     
  6. Ken Carvalho
    Joined: Dec 22, 2004
    Posts: 1,611

    Ken Carvalho
    Member

    If your carefull, AND I MEAN V E R Y careful!!! you can weld on a small spot of weld onto the edge of the heads and drill and tap it, I suggest getting a piece of carbon, what I call a "carbon pen" in a small diameter to maintain the basic hole as the weld is hard to drill from solid, but I did it, I marked the spot where the hole needed to be, heated up the head, had a helper hold the carbon, and welded a "tang" around the carbon onto the head. VERY< VERY slowly!!!!! Let it cool down, then tapped on the "chunk" to make sure it held, then heated it back up again ever so carefully to soften it up, then drilled the correct size, let it cool back down, and then tapped it to the 5/15" threads. has worked for years now, --maybe-- I got lucky, but I tried it and it worked?!?!?!?...Ken
     
  7. colorado51
    Joined: Feb 24, 2003
    Posts: 1,576

    colorado51
    Member

    I have an old set of staggered plain finned aluminum covers (the fins are really deep) that I picked up at a garage sale a few years ago. I'd like to use them if I could.

    Hell, I might model up some adapters/spacers in CAD and run it though our shop where I work!

    Dave
     
  8. colorado51
    Joined: Feb 24, 2003
    Posts: 1,576

    colorado51
    Member

    Ohhh man, these are really nice angle plug heads, and if anyone could mess them up, I could!:rolleyes:
     
  9. Ken Carvalho
    Joined: Dec 22, 2004
    Posts: 1,611

    Ken Carvalho
    Member


    Yeah I gotta agree that it is a "delicate" procedure! I wouldn't do it to a valuable set!! I worked at a machine shop, so "heads" were --EVERY-WHERE--!!!! But it is a thought for someone to do if they wanna "screw around"...Ken
     
  10. putz
    Joined: Jan 22, 2007
    Posts: 637

    putz
    Member
    from wisc.

    :cool: i have a set with old style vette covers ,they have moon style breathers on , sell for 100.00 , great shape:)
     
  11. Saoutlaws_Gotti
    Joined: Jan 10, 2007
    Posts: 750

    Saoutlaws_Gotti
    Member

    Go ol skool drill the new style holes in the valve cover flange


    i got a pair of the ol staggered vette style aluminums layin around shop somewhere, that someone did that too
     

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