Tall Valve Covers with 3rd Gen Serpentine Brackets? [Archive] - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

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The Fixer

05-15-2006, 11:03 AM

Hey all,
I'm using Harland Sharp 1.5 aluminum full roller rockers with my ZZ4 cam, and it ~appears~ that I'm going to run into some clearance problems inside the valve covers. I put one cover on the other day, and could feel it wouldn't sit flush on the head; it's either hanging up on those big-ass polylocks, or the end above the pushrod.

Has anyone here been able to fit tall valve covers with the stock '88-'92 serpentine belt setup??

05-15-2006, 04:48 PM

i believe i had tall Moroso covers on my 383. I was running 1.6 ratio crane gold race rockers, with no issues. and i had the stock 88 serp belt drive.

**edit** yeah, heres a picture i found, lol
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/serp.jpg

05-15-2006, 05:00 PM

oh and one more thing, the alternator terminal comes close to the valve cover but it does clear enough.

Steve if you wanna come by soemtime to check it out, just let me know, i moved it since that pic, but i have more stuff piled on it again now, hehe.

The Fixer

05-15-2006, 06:43 PM

Thanks for the response Paul! If that motor is still together, I'd like to see it, just so I can see what I'm in for. Of course, the only tall valve covers that are available for centerbolt heads are those spiffy billet ones; not sure they'd be any bigger than the ones you're using though. I'll call you to set up a time for me to swing by.

BonzoHansen

05-15-2006, 08:30 PM

I'm looking at a pic of a SBC in the new GMPP catalog. It looks like they would fit no problem. Some thick aluminum one might not. Like the edelbrock signatures I have lying aroudn might not.

I guess I'll let you know in a month or so.

The Fixer

05-17-2006, 10:53 PM

Well, I found out today that Crane makes a set of shorter polylocks to fit under centerbolt valve covers, so this will be the cheapest way out for me. They're about $50. The locks that came with my rocker arms are 1" tall; the new ones are .86" and should give me the clearance I need. I'll just have to redo the valve lash ~again~. Someday soon I will get this thing off the engine stand and fired up!

Thanks for the help guys!