Technical Offenhouser valve covers from Speedway

I just can't believe people blame Speedway for something Offy produced. It's NOT a Speedway problem, get real. Yes, Speedway sells some offshore ****, almost every vendor does because Americans like cheap ****. Know your product, know the source. If the part number starts with "910-" it's a Speedway produced part. Some are decent American Made parts, some aren't. All those prefixes represent different manufacturers. Sure they sell some ****, wouldn't sell it if there wasn't a market for it. If they offer a steering column from a name brand supplier and an identical looking one for a lot less with their name on it, do the math.

Sorry for the rant but I've dealt with Speedway since the 70's and they have always stood behind stuff for me, always treated me right and answered every single question I asked them with total honesty. Don't buy the cheap ****. I don't think you will find Speedway selling fake parts that weren't manufactured by the owner of the brand name. That's ridiculous, where do people come up with this stuff???!?!???

What we have here is a part that was manufactured by a big name supplier that was junk. Hold them responsible. If you want complain to Speedway I'm sure they would make it right (even though it's not really their fault in this case). Just ask them to open the replacement and check to make sure it doesn't have the same problem.

Rant over,
SPark

 

Ahhh Gr***hopper it is Rocker science

 

I would guess that even though it is not Speedways fault it is their responsibility to make it right with the customer, after all they sold it to you, let them deal with the vender. I've also dealt with Speedway Motors for many years and had a problem twice, and both times they made it right, no problem. Is some of the stuff they sell cheap offshore made ? Sure it is. $320.00 for a set of valve covers is not cheap by any means, I would at the very least let them know about it. That's all I have to say about that.

 

Thankyou, Sir- the voice of reason has been heard.

 

Thanks for all the replies.

Can't send them back now as I fixed them, It was hard to believe how much I had to mill off to get them straight. I was lucky that there is enough meat in that area that could be cut off.

I was suprised to see the packing that was in the box, it was newspaper with all Chinese writing on it, I thought the Offy parts would be made in the USA but guess not. And yes, all thoses that said this is a Offy problem not Speedway, I agree. But I will send Speedway an e-mail as they are the ones that got my money. Well I guess China got some also....

I know that you have to watch out what you buy from Speedway (you get what you pay for) but with this being a brand name part I thought I would be OK.
I guess I just wanted to give the other Y block guys a heads up on the Offy covers.

 

6inarow is correct. Several small time US manufacturers (generally of limited volume components) have seen Speedway clone their products and have them made off shore.
And if the packing that came with the covers consisted of Chinese language newspapers as stated by the OP I would doubt that the parts were actually made in the US by any iteration of the original company.
Further to the above comments, checking on the Offy web site it sure looks like the only parts that they make at Alhambra Avenue are flathead manifolds and heads and maybe some other intake manifolds. And judging by the size of the facility as seen in their photos all that happens there is some machining on those parts (and that appears to be all old school manual work without any CNC in sight.
This is the longest link that I have ever seen but it should bring up some photos;
https://www.google.com/maps/uv?hl=e...ved=0ahUKEwiC1MON8v7VAhUFwiYKHe15C0AQoioIdjAK

Roo

 

You can see them making all sorts of parts including valve covers on their Instagram but it is a small operation and it is all manual machining.

Given all the meat you found left to machine off I'd say the odds are that you get a set that got missed and weren't machined at all.

I'd still call speedway and let them know

 

Good to hear you were able to machine them and get them flat enough.If you checked the matching surface of the heads you would find their not all that flat as well.Some cases I have machined both to get them flat enough to seal.I hate oil leaks.

 

I bought OFFY VCS for my 390 Ford Fe back in 2006.NO LEAKS!SEND THEM BACK!

 

Could also be a domestically produced newspaper that is printed in Chinese.

Edit I forgot to add something in all caps and add exclamation points.

UMMM YEAH THAT SHOULD WORK!!!!

 

Sent an e-mail to Speedway and they said they would get their customer service dept to contact me. I don't expect much as I allready fixed them.

 

Contact OFFY they'll make it right if speedway doesn't-
MADE in the USA... everyone makes mistakes but Jesus... yes lets hold people accountable but also lets support the companies we still have stateside making stuff we want. I've bought all kinds of Offy stuff and never had a problem. I think they still make Quality products-

Current photos taken in the last few months from Offy.

 

gee all manual, probably a lot of knowledge and mental calculations going on there would be fun to spend a day there

 

Speedway doesn't pack their stuff in newspaper. They have a huge shipping department. I kinda doubt there's a room filled with old Asian newspapers for packaging. And how do you know the language is Chinese?

 

You gotta squint reeeeeeeal hard...

 

Really? You know a statement like that, in this day and age, is kinda antiquated. For lack of the proper word. Maybe you should think about it for a bit.

 

Everyone is soooo sensitive nowadays

If it makes you feel better your feelings aren't the only ones I've hurt today...

 

LOL....... typical.

 

That won't work, it would take a modi*** of intelligence and a little sensitivity for thought to get thru.

 

Offenhauser manufacturers in the USA. Los Angeles, in fact.

I have been there. Did not see any children, either.

 

Good info, thanks

 

QUOTE="tfeverfred, post: 12203453, member: 22396"]And how do you know the language is Chinese?[/QUOTE]

Well it was'nt "American"

 

Over tightening the two hold down studs will distort the rail. That's why modern engines rarely use the two stud clamping design of the old y block, and why rigid composite or thick flange die cast covers are now common. Not saying that's the problem here, but I'd consider the possibility before piling on Speedway or Offy.

At work we manufactured two series of engines with stud mounted valve covers and had lots of field replacements because dealer mechanics were frequently over tightening the covers and distorting them during valve lash maintenance checks. We later redesigned the cover fastening system.

Also, it's not uncommon for Asian newspapers to be used as packing stuffers, especially if the product is shipped from LA or San Francisco where there is a high concentration of people of Asian descent.

Even in the college town that I live in one can pick up an Asian language newspaper at the grocery store.

 

I thought they would be made in the USA also, In fact I did some looking before I paid the $320 to see if I could get a lower price and found out how small of an operation they are and that they do very small runs of product. Speedway and others run out of these valve covers often and shipping dates cannot be confermed, other vendors also have a small number of these covers in stock (when they have any in stock). I understand there may not be a big market for Y block valve covers, so I just placed the order and waited.
Anyway, the valve covers were shipped in a plain box that was stuffed with newspaper that was not of english print. That box was inside a box that had the Speedway logo.
Beside all of this about where the parts were made or my ability to tell newspaper from China or Korea or what ever, I just wanted to let others know what they may be up aganist if they want some cool Offy covers on their Y block.

 

Not overtightened, I made round hand knobe that hold the covers on and so no tools are used to tighten the covers. I thought about replacing the hand knobs with nuts and tightening with a wrench but was afraid I would crack the casting before I could squish the gasket enough to seal.

 

But not one English language paper in the box? Does not matter anyway, Like I said this is not about where they were made, guess I should not have brought it up, this was just a warning to other Y block guys.

 

Yep, you regurgitated some **** you swallowed there. Huge problem with a lot of people. Spread **** they hear as fact. So easy to verify before responding on a forum. May be a better part if it was made in China by kids.

 

Offy's machine shop area sure looks different than Edelbrock's in Torrance, Ca.