Anyone having trouble w/valve cover clearance? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

B17CRX · 03-01-2011, 10:45 AM

I pulled a 283 with stock valve covers out of my 55 and replaced it with a 327 with tall edelbrock covers when the body was off. I put the cab back on last night but the firewall hits the valve covers! I reused stock mounts so the only thing I can think of is the tall vs stock valve covers but I could swear I have seen lots of people running tall and short covers in their 55-59's. Also the HEI distributor touches slightly. Its as if the whole engine needs to move forward .25 -.5 inch yet it was a small block for small block swap with the stock mounts, what gives??

-Joel

OrrieG · 03-01-2011, 12:59 PM

If you are using the stock front mounts they can pivot front to back. But the back bellhousing mounts should keep it in place. Any chance the back mounts slipped back, the frame holes are slotted not a tight fit. Same with the cab mounts. Between the two you could easily have the 1/2 inch you need. I trial fit my M/T valve covers this week end and found I had to move the autotrans filler tube to get one on. My HEI has about 1/2" clearance but I had to fab my front mount pads. You should have the radiator support and fenders set before tightening everything down. It is probably just a matter of loosening and shifting the engine forward or cab a little back. The rad support has room to move too.

Russell Ashley · 03-01-2011, 04:49 PM

I can't use the tall valve covers on my 57 with 350 and stock mounts. I currently have a set of after-market valve covers on it now and they do clear but come very close to the firewall. I saw a set of stock covers, eighties I think, that look to be slanted on the ends and I am thinking of getting a set of those and seeing if they would give me a little more clearance. I have new engine mounts and there doesn't seem to be any front-to-back play in it at all. A PO had banged my firewall back some to clear a stock HEI distributor but that also looked too close to me. I smoothed it up as well as I could when I had my engine out, and bought a new distributor with an external coil.

03-01-2011, 10:45 AM	#1
B17CRX Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Monroe, WA Posts: 181	Anyone having trouble w/valve cover clearance? I pulled a 283 with stock valve covers out of my 55 and replaced it with a 327 with tall edelbrock covers when the body was off. I put the cab back on last night but the firewall hits the valve covers! I reused stock mounts so the only thing I can think of is the tall vs stock valve covers but I could swear I have seen lots of people running tall and short covers in their 55-59's. Also the HEI distributor touches slightly. Its as if the whole engine needs to move forward .25 -.5 inch yet it was a small block for small block swap with the stock mounts, what gives?? -Joel

03-01-2011, 12:59 PM	#2
OrrieG Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Idaho Posts: 8,800	Re: Anyone having trouble w/valve cover clearance? If you are using the stock front mounts they can pivot front to back. But the back bellhousing mounts should keep it in place. Any chance the back mounts slipped back, the frame holes are slotted not a tight fit. Same with the cab mounts. Between the two you could easily have the 1/2 inch you need. I trial fit my M/T valve covers this week end and found I had to move the autotrans filler tube to get one on. My HEI has about 1/2" clearance but I had to fab my front mount pads. You should have the radiator support and fenders set before tightening everything down. It is probably just a matter of loosening and shifting the engine forward or cab a little back. The rad support has room to move too. __________________ 1959 Chevy Short Fleetside w/ 74 4WD drive train (current project) OrrieG Build Thread 1964 Chevelle Malibu w/ 355-350TH (daily driver) Helpful AD and TF Manual Site Old Car Manual Project

03-01-2011, 04:49 PM	#3
Russell Ashley Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lawrenceville, Ga Posts: 2,641	Re: Anyone having trouble w/valve cover clearance? I can't use the tall valve covers on my 57 with 350 and stock mounts. I currently have a set of after-market valve covers on it now and they do clear but come very close to the firewall. I saw a set of stock covers, eighties I think, that look to be slanted on the ends and I am thinking of getting a set of those and seeing if they would give me a little more clearance. I have new engine mounts and there doesn't seem to be any front-to-back play in it at all. A PO had banged my firewall back some to clear a stock HEI distributor but that also looked too close to me. I smoothed it up as well as I could when I had my engine out, and bought a new distributor with an external coil.



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