ive been searching for valve covers for my 460 for some time and i havent seen anything im too crazy about. however, the FE and Y-block valve covers are very attractive. does anyone make an adapter to bolt FE or Y-block valve covers to 429 or 460 heads?
i don't have examples of a 460 to check for dimensions, but the FE cover is very deep and should clear most any valvetrain, if it spans the length correctly. if i were doing this, i'd try one or two methods that might work; 1. section the existing 460 covers down to get a good flange to mount the upper sections of FE covers, sectioned to fit. this might entail using 2 complete sets of FE covers, i don't know as i haven't got measurements to compare. OR..... 2. get a machinist to fab up a set of aluminum spacers that have the 460 bolt pattern to attach them to the head, and a FE pattern to attch the valve covers. again, i don't have measurements to see if there's VERY obvious differences to contend with! but what the hell, if folks can put Olds Rocket covers on SBC's i don't see what they could say about a 460 with "THUNDERBIRD" covers on it!
Another thing maybe, take a pair of stamped stock 460 ones, cut the logo or whatever out of a pair you like, cut out the same size in your 460s and weld in the other tops.
When Fast Lane Hot Rods built George Poteet's black Deuce 5W, Dave Lane made adapters to attach Thuderbird valve covers onto the crate 351's aluminum heads. Here's a link: http://www.fastlanerodshop.com/5window/5window_valve_covers.htm ...just like 62Rebel's option #2.
The 429 is a lot bigger, I doubt if the FE valve cover will fit it. The MEL 430-462 valve covers might be closer. What look are you going for?
How about these Blue Thunder covers? You have to get them from Blue Thunder dealers, they do not sell direct. Survival Motorsports is a Blue Thunder dealer.
I have seen several sets of adapters to put BBC covers on a 460. If I did that, I would use an old set of M/Ts on the 460. The BBC M/T covers look a whole lot better than the 460 ones...There were a couple sets on eB last week, made by the Ansen guy who sells all those nostalgia covers. By the way, 460 covers are 2 or 3 inches longer and almost an inch wider than FE covers.. Y block covers are completely out of the question, being even shorter than 289-302 covers.
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