Hi! My buddy wants to dress-up his 351 Cleveland, he's looking for finned valve covers...some speed-shop told him they don't exist for the Cleveland engine? is this correct??? Thanx!
Depending on what he is looking for in the way of "finned", they ARE available. Ford Motorsport sells, or USED to sell black covers with fins that said "Ford Motorsport" on them with the Ford logo included in the raised aluminum casting. There were also some finned aluminum ones that may have been aftermarket (Cal Custom, perhaps?) that a guy around here was running on his 400M. His were polished with blue paint between the ribs to match his engine, in a big ol' Thunderbird. He got 'em at a swap meet back in the 80s, so who knows how old or rare they are... ...but they DO exist...just probably not currently in production! (Why the speed shop guy said he couldn't get 'em!)
Ford SVO has a couple of very nice finned rocker covers for the Cleveland. One, all aluminum and the other the same, but with black paint in the grooves. P.A.W. carries the SVO covers and probably has the best price.
There is a few out there for the 351C, Ford Racing/Ford Motorsport is one style, MT/Holley/Weiand is another style and Cal Custom made a very cool looking set with no name at all, just smooth looking fins, there harder to find, but the best looking by far.
The 351 is also produced as a 302 (different crank) in Austrailia. They are pretty popular down there so maybe one of the Aussie HAMBers can help. Send Brootal a P.M.
For years now, I've been looking for deep finned, more traditional Cal Custom looking ones for my motor- I don't think anyone has made them for the 351 Cleve for quite a while. All the current ones (Ford Motorsports, MT, etc.) look like 70's muscle car stuff to me. I guess I'll keep checking swaps and E bay
A couple of years ago, I picked up a nice set of bead blasted Cal-Custom style Cleveland covers at a swapmeet for $50. I run them on the 351M in my Ranch Wagon. They are fairly common at swapmeets and such, prices usually run from $50 to $200 for a nice polished set.