Valve covers
 

Anybody have any problems getting valve covers to fit Edelbrock heads? I have tried two different sets and can’t get all the bolts started. I tried set screws and I can’t get them to line up either. The company I ordered the first set from told me to enlarge the holes. That didn’t work cause they didn’t have enough meat. The second set I ordered were from a different company and they wouldn’t guarantee they would fit Edelbrock heads for whatever reason. I ordered a set of chrome Edelbrock to try now but I really want a finned aluminum set.

All I can tell is that the chrome Edelbrock covers and the once very nice Moroso chrome covers have very little chrome plating these days and will start to show signs of rust pitting in a years time even when waxed up well!
If I where to use either of these covers again I would resolve myself to getting them re-chromed even before I used them.

Stock covers w fat gaskets on mine

Are you saying the bolt holes on valve covers won't line up with the corresponding bolt holes on the heads? My repro factory chrome valve covers line up with the d-port e-heads bolt holes just fine. I've never heard of anyone having the issue you mention with regard to the e-heads.

There is a lot of negative feedback on the finned aluminum valve covers on amazon. The company that I bought the from said one in ten is off and the holes have to be drilled out. I ordered two sets and both were off

I had to open up the holes in mine. Not terrible. Also the breather hole isn't centered between the rocker arms and the hole is too big. I made some sleeves on the lathe and epoxied them in.

Don't Drill
 

Don't drill unless the holes are too small.

To make them fit....Use a rat tail file and divide distance up between all the holes. A little bit on every hole is better than a bunch on a single hole.

Had some old M/T's or Cal-Custom covers that were suppose to use the tall wing nut (T looking) bolts. 1/2" bolt head wouldn't even fit in the indention.
Ended up using machine screws and a flat blade screw driver.

Clay

The problem isn’t in the heads - it’s in the valve covers.

Well I ordered a little bit more expensive brand of finned covers. I am only talking about them being off just enough to piss you off. If this set doesn’t fit I am going to take them to the machine shop and have them drilled out equally.

The set I just sold fit like a glove. I should have kept them and just had them chromed

Electroplating aluminium is not a easy task to be done right !


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Round port Edelbrock heads fit my factory valve covers perfectly. I suspect the valve covers. Head should be a precision machined part.

Sam

Sorry, I was referring to steel valve covers.

Its not the heads its just cheap Chinese valve covers. EVERY review on Amazon says they had to open the hole a little bit to get them to fit. My first set from a different vendor fit perfectly so I ordered from my first vendor and if they dont fit I am gonna use my drill press and drill the holes one size bigger because they are only off enough to piss you off. I mean you can see the set screw thru the hole its just halfway covered. On a side not I have stripped one of the head valve cover bolt holes taking the bolts in and out. I am going to put double sided tape on the inside of the head to catch any chips and I am gonna drill and helicoil that hole. Is that hole blind or does an oil gallery run under it or anything? Can I drill it and helicoil it safely?

you should ask the vendor or manufacturer about that

Well I have tried every set of finned valve covers on the summit website except for the Edelbrock and none of them fit. I know it’s not the heads but the actual cheap ass chinese castings. I can’t afford to drop almost 300 bucks on the Edelbrock and then turn around and have them machined for breathers so I bought a set of chrome Edelbrock just to get by. I don’t understand how these people sell these things and people force them to work rather than force them to raise the quality.

Wrong it is the heads. I had to open up the holes on my factory valve covers to fit mine.


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A bird in the hand... I'm thinking if ALL the valvecovers don't fit, your machinist might have made your old ones fit?

You really need to post some measurements. Or pics. Or both. My tape measure shows center to center is just under 10 1/2" and just under 4 1/2" on an OE valvecover. You might even be able to use the gaskets to help you figure out which one is the greater offender, do they fit the heads or valvecovers better??

No my old ones fit fine. They were on my 326 before they were on my 455. He didn’t do anything to clean them up

Just looking at the valve cover I am about to send back, even if I did drill the holes huge and force them to fit they would be leakers. You can tell that they are just enough off to where they wouldn’t ride the valve cover ridge properly.