Are tall valve covers really needed???
 

We used valve cover spacers to clear the Harland Sharp 1.5 roller rockers however someone just told me today that their stock GTO valve covers fit fine without the spacers....is this possible? :confused:

Maybe, maybe not...... With stock installed height and a low lift cam, you might be able to get them under there.

Did yours fit without the spacers?

Probably not as the speed shop said that they had to add them. Not sure if the 1/4" think gasket would have done it...

My Crower steel rockers cleared. We bent the oil drips up a little is all.

Mine clear with HS 1.5's and an XE2854 cam.

It's a roller cam so maybe that is the difference? 230/236 duration, .510/.520 lift #62 heads

i have a comp cam 230/236 dur .565/.570 lift

with #12 heads and it fits under the stock covers

Mine was a roller too. The only thing that will change things is if your valves are longer or recessed into the head. The roller lifter is longer, but you use a shorter pushrod to compensate.

As long as your installed height on your valve springs is no more than 1.65"(stock) they will clear. I ran my H.S. 1.65 with installed height @ 1.65" with .560" lift with stock covers and had no clearance problems. Thanks, Bryan.

P.S. When I moved the springs I.H. to 1.70" and lifted the valves to .587" I then had clearance issues. Bryan

good thread. i need to order some valve covers, but the tall ones seem pricey. i have eheads, comp red 1.65 rockers, and a comp cam 228/236 duration with .520" lift. will i need tall valve covers to clear the poly locks?

All bets are off with the E-heads. Mine weren't even close. I did have taller valves, but I think the valve cover rails are much shorter on the E-heads than the stock heads.

Just went threw this, Get a set of Stock Valve covers without the oil drippers and order the thicker valve cover gaskets approx 1/4 inch. Worked for me with 1.5 Harland Sharp Rockers.

Moroso tall covers aren't very expensive, if you don't mind chrome or various anodized aluminum colors. I haven't handled the aluminum ones, but the chrome ones are quite well made and rigid.

RAIV valves (longer than stock), HS 1.65/1.72 rockers, mild solid roller cam (232/244 duration, .335" lobe lift), all fit under stock reproduction chrome valvecovers using a 1/4" cork Felpro gasket on #061 heads.

why not just try the covers you have first instead of buying new spacers or tall ones? Maybe the answer is so simple I dont see it? LOL

FYI, this afternoon I decided to take off the tall chrome Moroso valve covers and put the stock valve cover back on. I always hated chrome anyway. But to get the clearance a needed I purchased the Felpro pn#1622 gaskets and the standard thickness cork gaskets. I sandwiched them together, installed the covers, and have no clearance issues. This is with 1.70" height springs and .587" lift using H.S. 1.65's.

P.S, My stock covers have no "drippers".

I run stock valve covers without drippers with HS 1.65s and 400 lobe lift and the aftermarket thick valve cover gaskets.Have them on 2 motors as we speak.Tom

what are drippers?

Some factory valve covers have metal tabs spot welded inside to drip oil on the rocker arm fulcrums. Bryan