I been thinking about putting some stamped steel covers on my Olds mill. I love the look and well those vintage finned Edelbrocks and Offys leak like mad. Seems as the gaskets don't line up perfect and I'm not one to gob on a bunch of RTV. So school me on Olds valve covers, what will fit and years. Im running a '55 324 block with later 371 heads. Cam is a Crower #80 284d .495 lift with McGurk adjustables and Chevy 409 valves. With all that lift and spring going on, would a factory cover fit? I have seen the "dimpled" valve covers and wondered if those were for higher lift cams. They show up once in a while also I could make a spacer if needed to raise em up. Anyone know or ran into similar? Chris No, I ain't putting Chevy valve covers on it either.
Interested too in what interchanges. I've '55 heads including the 1.8 rockers on my 303 and would like to use the original 1950 303 valve covers. Looks to be close but will they work on a running engine? Thanks
If you're running '57 heads, you need a bit more clearance on each end. I believe that the '57 rocker shafts are slightly longer than '49-'56. On the subject of gaskets, I just got a flyer in the mail yesterday advertising some modern technology valve cover gaskets for early Olds V8s. I'll publish the name of the company when I get home tonight. As far as rocker interference, back in the dark ages, cast aluminum valve cover spacers were available for such a problem. Iskenderian rockers are nice, in that the adjusting screw sticks out the bottom rather than the top, and don't run into the covers.
never had a problem with leakage using weather strip adhesive on the cover to gasket to keep them in place. the 371 heads may be a bit long for the early stamped covers..
a little hard to see here, and please excuse the crusty examples.. but the three (303 and 324) covers on the left are about 1/4" shorter than the two (early and late 371) covers on the right. if you used a miss-matched year head and cover this could explain your difficulty in proper sealing..
With the Offy valve covers, or any other aluminum cover Ive found it best to have them surfaced. They always have a little bow to them or imperfections so that takes care of that problem, then i use gaska-sench on the CORK gasket. Never had a leak doing it this way.
I didnt even think about the shafts having a different length. I looked at the length, my problem on the aluminumn covers and yep the ends are off just enough for a leak. The Edelbrocks also have a groove that the seal sits inside. While the Offys are just flat on the bottom and might seal better. I bet I suffer from the miss match problem. Looks like I need the 371 covers and maybe make a spacer. I love this place, where else but the HAMB could I find and answer so fast. C.
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