I need help I am baffled by valve cover baffles.

So I picked up some of the new chinese made cal custom valve covers for my 289. Bleaugh cheap looking garbage.... anyway they do not have the built in baffles like the ones my buddy bought for his sbc, instead they come with the Moroso style rubber baffle. Heres the problem, that big ass baffle doesnt clear the rockers. I would exchange them for some tall covers but it doesnt look like there is such a thing. I dont think they would clear the kickdown and linkage bracket anyway. Any ideas, or has anyone else run into this problem with these?

 

find something "made in USA"

 

sorry homie cal custom dont make them in the U.S. of A. anymore

 

buy all you can at the swap meets before they are too expensive, or cannot be found - elimination of the baffle was a stupid, cost-cutting step - many who have bought thinking 'this is a DEAL', didn't discover missing baffles until too late - and a messy upper engine to boot!

 

the sbc ones have the screw in baffles, the sbf ford ones i bought do not. are there any less obtrussive rubber baffles I could use? I have only seen the ones moroso makes.

 

Iike 1939 streetrod said get you a good set at a swapmeet and if you find 2-sets get them both.the cheap chrome jap junk can"t even take the heat of American muscle engines.

 

Look up calcustom on ebay ...Slow selling there You probably can get a good deal on originals..............

 

The problem is simple, "Made in China", any questions?

 

I have an ancient set of Cal Customs on my 289, the old ones didnt come with baffles either.

 

I think you've got your Asian countries confused. I have never seen Japanese rocker covers.

But dannyego, you can make baffles fronm sheetmetal and figure out a way to secure them. Screws would do it. Without a baffle under a pcv it'll just suck all your oil, none under a breather = messy.

 

And the chinese ones are being made to a spec sent from the US....

 

A trick I saw on a guy's car that worked on a clearance issue was to double the gaskets & bond them together. Don't know if this would help in your case, but it would give you another 3/16" or so.

 

I'd JB Weld some baffles in place; a MIG welder would be nice, but would fry the chrome.

 

Or rivets.

 

I have a set of OG Big Chevy ones. No baffles either but they do have a place to screw on a piece of sheet metal. Which someone did.

 

Ford Racing has die-cast aluminum valve covers for your 289 that are tall enough to clear roller rockers and stud girdles, etc. They include baffles.

You can find them on page 222 of their digital 2010 catalog:

http://www.fordracingparts.com/2010-catalog/default.asp

And they're made in the USA!

 

people talk about Chinese this or that like the Chinese people are somehow to blame. the problem is with the American companies who have them build to a certain cost point, rather than a specific set of standards.

building the cheapest piece of shit the consumers will tolerate... it's the new American way.




valve covers should be bought at the swap meet or ebay.

 

Valve covers shouldnt cost $200 because they are stamped MADE IN USA. Im begining to realize while people put SBC's in everything. I cant even find a pcv grommit that will fit either set of valve covers I have. The auto parts store computers says none available yet....I have tried a few and cant find one that works WTF

 

Why don't you just make a baffle?

 

Exactly

 

Do your covers have the holes for the twist in breathers? If so then you need the breather with the hole in the top for the PCV. I got mine at the local NAPA, it was about ten bucks.

 

DANNY...just throw a little rice in them, they'll be fine...POP.

 

Dude, you are out there!

 

the problem is not the people or companys that make them it is the people that buy them

 

i have a old set on my 302,no baffles... im about ready to change to something else...

 

Danny, I had the same problem! It sucks. They are sitting in my garage collecting dust. I ended up buying the Edelbrock classic style finned valve covers from Summit. They cost more but they look nice and the quality is great. Only one issue. I had to machine my own holes for the breather and PCV. Edelbrock part # 4160

 

Well maybe the old speed shops lost out from all the swapmeets and china made crap..Whens the last time anyone has picked up a new set.
From a speedshop they do need to sell to stay open..I for one pick a shop and try to buy from them and not the web lol.

 

I used to supervise dyno oil consumption tests. I once ran a series of tests on a SBF with and without the valve cover baffles.

With baffles: 2500 mi/qt of oil

Without baffles: 400 mi/qt of oil

Since then I have fabricated baffles for my engines.

 

Ford Racing has some nice looking valve covers, but the ones for the Windsor block V8s including the 289 seem to be on pages 216 to 217 rather than 222 as you reported.

Most of the valve cover sets they carry seem to be geared toward the Mustang and Cobra crowd, but they do have some that would look right for other applications, too.