valve covers

[billybob]

Well the sleeper and I are down and out yet again,

After a much needed valve cover gasket change, I was torqin down the cover and at 5 lbs the cover cracks I figured it must have been a stress crack in the original cover but still

So never actually having had to purchase valve covers I'm flipping thru the catelogues and noticing a not so obvious choice ;help do I buy an OEM Replacement or potentially sidestep the golden bullet and get a new set of Edelbrock Elite Valve Covers?

What are the potential problems that I can expect from after market covers? The first I noticed is that the Edelbrock's dont have an oil hole, they say you have to fill thru the PCV .. interesting.

Any help would be appreciated

Bill

 

[Bob Chadwick]

I also remember a lot of posts earlier this year about baffles and leaks.

 

[AKRAY4PLAY]

Bill,
check out gm performance parts. they offer some very nice cast aluminum covers for about $110. they have the needed baffles to keep oil consumption to a minimum. the rails are extra thick to protect against from what happened to you. bummer about the old ones, good luck on the new ones, Brian

 

[billybob]

I'm still looking,

I guess without actually seeing them in person it makes me a bit nervous, how can I be sure the covers are going to be tall enough to clear the valves? And as I want to get a cam and valve job in the near future, will the choice now on "better covers" for comp cam make a difference?

Bill

 

[MLGower]

Bill,

I have the Edelbrock Elites on my '78 and I love them. Mine do have the oil fill on them, but you have to punch that out (basicly a cutout from the inside of the cover). Also, Edelbrock gives you the option of where to place the PCV valve by punching out the cutout just like the oil fill. I've had these covers on now for about 3 months (replacing the originals after having problems with leaks) and haven't had any problems or leaks. They do not have the baffles in them, but other than that, I like them.

Michael

 

[billybob]

OK thanks to all that responded,

After looking at the OEM, and then saw the price (180 each) I opt'd for the Edelbrock's (140 set) original is nice if you can afford it.

As I wanted to try and keep it semi original.. all hope is lost...
Actually just give me a better excuse to MOD the heck outta her :L

So I might aswell get the hooker headers and side pipes while I'm at it, no smog nazi's here Bunch of chrome parts, new rims, tyres, stinger hood etc figure If i'm gonna spend money, might as well break the bank :crazy

Bill