When I built a Ford 5.0 to replace my Mercruiser 888, I retained as many parts as possible to save money; this thing costs enough without replacing every peripheral. When it came to my valve covers, I realized a rocker on top of the GT-40P heads were hitting a baffle (what I think is a baffle anyways, this amounts to a splash shield, I appreciate the correction here if one is warranted). So I took the valve cover off to basically remove the baffle and found the metal splitting around one of the bolt holes, as seen in the pics below. This thing was already leaking a little due to 40 years of warpage (and probably this hole) so I figured a replacement wasn't too far down the road anyway. So now I simply get to replace a little sooner than planned.

Is the shield below the oil/breather port called a baffle?



Split





Onto the replacement...

I found these at Summit which seem to be about the cheapest decent set of replacements I can find... It looks like they will work but also have baffles which will need to be removed. The question with this is what do I need to make it work... It appears that pvc grommet as well as a push in type of breather should do it but is that all?

Also, what is the best type of gasket for this? I prefer the steel reinforced rubber types for ease of installation and durability but I am not sure if they will seal it up the best as these seem less sturdy than the newer factory steel valve covers which these gaskets are used with. I guess the only other option is a standard cork which is fine but which is better?

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/su...view/make/ford



Here are the valve covers I am replacing...





Please advise if anyone has any better suggestions. These have a bit of a tight fit because of the exhaust manifolds so I think I should keep these pretty much the same style and I don't want to monkey with old covers that are just as warped and are being sold for more than brand new covers. I don't care if they are chrome or not unless the chrome is cheaper; painted is fine though.

Thanks for reading.

 

Crazy take from this what you wish, I am getting ready to purchase the following

Felpro 1684 - Performance valve cover gaskets
SUM-G3322 - Cast aluminum Tall valve covers
TFS-25200801 - Trick Flow Valve Cover Stud Kits

I have P heads, and clearanced the factory covers. I am planning a different breather set up for the valve covers so the ones I am getting will allow me to put holes in them where I want. Good luck.

 

So with these you drill your own holes? Cause otherwise those are nice.

 

Yes sir that is my plan. They make a baffled fitting with o-ring seal to use as breather attachment, Ill see if I can pull up a p/n for you.

Of course if you can weld aluminum well you're ahead of me.

 

I was going to go to something like this, but you could just go with the correct size hole to fit your grommet for your breather in as well. I am planning on a evac set up which is why I like the covers with no holes, that way I can place the evac system where I want.

Moroso 22635 Moroso Racing Vacuum Pump - Free Shipping on All Orders @ JEGS

 

Have you got access to a welder? If so have that bolt hole tacked back together and don't remove the oil baffles just clearance them with a BFH so the rockers don't hit.

 

Thanks for the suggestions Blue... For what I have going I think that may be a little overkill. Trying to mind the budget as much as possible also. That and I dont have the equipment to be confident I can drill the holes without destroying a new set of covers.

Conan - your suggestion is worth considering... I dont have a welder but doubt it would cost much to have that sealed up. These are warped a little around the bolt holes so I was thinking if replacements are cheap enough, I might as well start fresh. A plus with keeping them also hides what the motor is which is plus for inspections. I may just do this.

Whats the consequence of no baffle? Worse case seems to be an oil soaked breather but its full of a steel wool type material so I am not sure this will do much since air gets sucked in so no blow out.

I dont want to hammer it but carefully trimming it or raising it up higher above the rocker could certainly be accomplished albeit more work than removing.

 

Here is what I decided to get to resolve this issue... I hope it works out. I am tired of dealing with old worn out junk. I am really going for function over style but these were priced right; gonna have to live with the Trick Flow logo. I do have Trick Flow pushrods and head bolts so not totally superficial. These will, I fear, stand out a little; at least on this engine.

 

They should do the trick!

 

Well if you're not worried about looks, just go grab a set of covers off any 90's 302/351, tthey look short, but they'll clear roller rockers. The stock covers on my 96 van's 351 cleared the Cobra rockers fine. I used the Felpro cork gaskets with the metal rings in the bolt holes that limit the compression of the bolts on the gaskets.

 

Go to the local scrap yard and get a set of covers from a Mustang GT from about 1987-1993. It is a heavy aluminum casting that clears my 1.7:1 Cobra bolt-down rockers. It has a rather tall chimney for the oil filler cap with a vent tube for PCV.

I've twice replaced standard cork gaskets with the metal rings, and both times the same problem: The cork eventually shrinks away from the two surfaces they're supposed to seal, and the oil leaks freely through the gap. I'm now using the FelPro gaskets made of some ribbed synthetic rubber around a steel core. I forgot the model number.

 

Issue resolved... As per my previous post, found what I needed at Summit without scavaging... Probably for the same price. Looks pretty good too. They were a little wider than what I had making it a tight fit. Also had to get a new pcv valve hose which was no big thing.





Thanks for all the feedback!

 

Looks good crazy. Mine came in Thursday I'm very happy with them.

 

Cool... Post before and after pics if you got them. Its nice to see what others are doing even if everything works well; thats kinda the way it really is supposed to be anyways...