valve cover fitment issues

[Rev. Mopar]

Am just finishing installation of a low deck stroker (500 cid) in my 1965 Dodge NSS wagon and would like to use aluminum fabricated valve covers as they always seem to seal better. Trouble is, all of them which I have and have tried are WAY to close to the distributor (not just the cap) to be removed for valve adjustment without taking out the distributor. Any ideas what brand will actually fit?

Thanks, Rev. Mopar

 

[RemCharger]

What kind of distributor

 

[gkent]

What does "way too close" mean ?? Either they rub or they don't !

 

[coloradodave]

I got mine from Marsh Performance and they fit fine with an MSD distributor and a Holley Sniper2 Hyperspark. I did have to drill the holes for the PCV and the oil filler cap: MOPARTS@PTMC.NET

 

[Rev. Mopar]

MSD. This is the first issue I have had with this sort of deal. By close, I mean you would be lucky if you could slide more than a piece of paper between the distributor and the valve cover. It will work, but when it comes time to adjust the valves, the distributor has to come out in order to take the valve cover off. Trick Flow heads.

 

[not so famous bob]

MSD. This is the first issue I have had with this sort of deal. By close, I mean you would be lucky if you could slide more than a piece of paper between the distributor and the valve cover. It will work, but when it comes time to adjust the valves, the distributor has to come out in order to take the valve cover off. Trick Flow heads.

file a couple of thousandths off the valve cover , I had to do the same on a f.a.s.t. 2.0 fuel inj. dist. which is a short Chevy dist. with a Mopar end on it instead of a gear. No big deal ...
I even had to grind the hell out of the victor type heads so the dist. would even set down in it , an MSD would have been way better in my case ...

 

[WileE]

Maybe a pic for us would help.

 

[gkent]

I don't see how one head would be different than any other. Likewise with MSD distributors. That said, that would make the valve covers the culprit. Its sounding to me like the covers you have have the walls of the covers "outide" the bolts - in other words, you use long bolts through tube to fasten down the covers. Any covers with the bolts arount the rails (like stock) would have plenty of distributor clearance. As previously mentioned, pictures speak volumes !!

 

[dfrazz]

Most aftermarket distributors require minor shaving of the valve cover. Not a big deal.

 

[gkent]

Most aftermarket distributors require minor shaving of the valve cover.

Really ??? !!!

 

[dfrazz]

Really ??? !!!

MSD, Firecore, etc...

 

[gkent]

Owned both of those - NO clearancing required - using Indy cast covers.

 

[not so famous bob]

I don't see how one head would be different than any other. Likewise with MSD distributors. That said, that would make the valve covers the culprit. Its sounding to me like the covers you have have the walls of the covers "outide" the bolts - in other words, you use long bolts through tube to fasten down the covers. Any covers with the bolts arount the rails (like stock) would have plenty of distributor clearance. As previously mentioned, pictures speak volumes !!

not in my case ...

 

[not so famous bob]

I don't see how one head would be different than any other. Likewise with MSD distributors. That said, that would make the valve covers the culprit. Its sounding to me like the covers you have have the walls of the covers "outide" the bolts - in other words, you use long bolts through tube to fasten down the covers. Any covers with the bolts arount the rails (like stock) would have plenty of distributor clearance. As previously mentioned, pictures speak volumes !!

you ever had a victor type head ? I know you haven't or I wouldn't have said that ....

 

[RemCharger]

you ever had a victor type head ? I know you haven't or I wouldn't have said that ....

He said he can't see how any head is different from another.. indy, Victor, rpm, stock, B1, trickflow, .. they're all from the same cast mold.

 

[gkent]

I doubt they're all from the same mold BUT when someone manufactures a head for a big block Mopar, they tend to stick with the exterior parameters of a stock head so other aftermarket products such as intakes, valve covers and distributors will fit - otherwise they'd have to make that stuff for their applications and that would probably significantly limit sales. Similarly most aftermarket heads stick pretty close on upper internal dimensions as well, limiting changes to fit within the confines of stock valve cover dimensions. Only a few that I know of have deviated extensively, those being Zeeker and B1 and I'll bet even those use just about any stock or aftermarket distributor with the possible exception of a DUI.

So what makes the OP's combination so damn special ?!?!?

Still no photos !!!

 

[Cranky]

I see things hasn't changed much if any over all the years lol. Did a bit of mill work to the Indy head AND valve cover so the MSD dizzy would fit in and get the VC off without having to remove the dizzy. Guessing that happened 30 years ago or so and it amazed me how much machine work it took to put that motor together!! Even had to machine the area that the VC screws went in. The pig of a Challenger (over 3600 lbs!) did go low 9's with the help of a small shot of the funny gas. Also amazed at how fast today's cars are off the showroom floor!!

 

[RemCharger]

Also amazed at how fast today's cars are off the showroom floor!!

Just the ones with artificial forced induction!!
My motorhome 440 in a fat 64 Dodge cleans up new NA hemis no problem

 

[coloradodave]

Speaking just for myself: The Indy 440 EZ-1 aluminum head had to be shaved with a grinder on the corner closest to the distributor in order to use the Holley Hyperspark distributor. The Msd did not require that. My covers came from Marsh and don't have the long bolts through tubes. You can see how close the cap is on page #4 above. I have a picture of the shaved head and will continue looking for it.

 

[gkent]

The blue tape area is the only place that had to be ground off on my Indy eZ-1's for distributor clearance (any distributor !!). In Indy's infinite wisdom they provided plenty of room - on the OTHER END of the head - but failed on this end. It didn't take them long to catch the problem as shortly after I bought mine all heads came machined in this area. Cast indy valve covers fit just fine (Holley Hyperspark distributor)