"68 BB Valve Cover Clearance Issue

[Russ T.]

Installing a hydraulic roller camshaft kit (lifters, rockers, springs) in a 427-435 car with power brakes. Pretty sure that I will need to extend the valve covers to clear the roller rockers. Summitt makes some spacers (P/N STF-63910) that are aluminum and are 1.150" tall.

Does anybody out there have any experience with this application in terms of clearance issues? Note that car has power brakes. I want a nice looking installation and definitely don't want to have to "beat-to-fit". Thanks!

[Michael M.]

Re: "68 BB Valve Cover Clearance Issue

Those spacers look interesting, although I have never used them. I will tell you I have a '68 427/390 and I put a hydraulic roller cam in it with roller rockers. The engine builder used chrome valve covers that were identical to stock ones except they were a little taller to clear the rocker arms. They even had the "crush" at the rear of the left side cover. I do not have power brakes so there wasn't a booster to interfere. I only bring this up because there may be an alternative out there for you instead of the spacers (which is just another spot to leak oil).

Instead of buying them for $123 maybe you should create some wood spacers (like big washers) that are the same height and install them on the engine to raise the valve covers and then you can check clearances that way.

[Joe L.]

Re: "68 BB Valve Cover Clearance Issue

Russ------

I've been "down this road". Assuming that you are using something equivalent to Comp Cam roller rockers, INCLUDING THEIR LOCK NUTS that are supplied with the rockers, you have 3 options:

1) Use stock valve covers with Fel Pro corkprene valve cover gaskets. These are about 1/16" thicker than stock and will provide enough clearance, even with the drippers you have;

2) Bend over the drippers so that they are flush with the underside of the valve cover;

3) Get an aftermarket set of stock-style, non-dripper valve covers. These will work with no problem, at all. You can get a set that is configured very similar in most respects to the stock valve covers with the only slight differences being wire loom placement, etc. Plus, these valve covers, which are foreign manufactured, are very inexpensive, are a MUCH higher quality stamping than ANY original GM valve cover, and have a chrome finish that's WAY, WAY better than the flash chrome GM applied.

[Michael M.]

Re: "68 BB Valve Cover Clearance Issue

Joe, my engine builder took care of the valve covers (so I wasn't involved in the selection) but I figured the clearance required was more than 1/16" over stock height (I guess I'm wrong). The aftermarket valve covers you describe seem exctly like mine except I believe I have the drippers inside the valve covers. I'll have to check.

[Jay G.]

Re: "68 BB Valve Cover Clearance Issue

Try Original Parts Group in CA. See their Chevelle section, Have aftermarket chrome valve covers. Look OEM with space clearence for roller rockers etc. $49.95 Have em on my 69 Camaro X-22. Heads have No clearence issues at all. With OEM apperance.

[Larry L.]

Re: "68 BB Valve Cover Clearance Issue

The nuts with set screw are the main problem. I took them down to my old machine shop and Walt took 3/16 off the bottom of the nuts and didn't even scratch the black oxide finish. Works really well. This also is the solution for the LT1 and roller rockers and the cast dripers in the covers.

[Mark #28455]

I've done it for 20 years!

I have run cams with over .600 lift and either Crower or Comp Cams steel roller rockers (NOT aluminum) and stock type valve covers. Usually it will fit using stock gaskets, however, Fel Pro has a cork gasket with steel core that's about twice stock thickness for extra insurance.

The import valve covers look OK, however, I have had a few sets of them that would not allow the stock type reinforcements to sit flat under the 7/16" valve cover bolts. It appears that either the covers are a little tight there, or the reinforcements are a little bigger than stock. In addition, the foreign valve covers need to be squeezed inward from the top and bottom sides to get the bolt holes to line up well, but for $29 a set on e-bay, that's not too bad!

Mark