Im using sidewinder heads that were milled down to 80cc on an rb block that was zero decked to the L2355F flat top six pack pistons.

With the blocked decked a little, plus the heads milled, Im worried the stock style valley pan wont fit right and Ill have to use a plate then a stand alone gasket on each head where the intake meets. The intake I will be running for now is a holley SD that will also need to be milled to fit.

Will a valley pan tub work just fine, or should I go the plate route? I would like to get the most affordable solution, but if I have to use a plate I will. Ive heard of many guys having issues with them leaking no matter what they do.

If you have a suggestion, please give me part numbers if you know them. I need to order asap

Thanks in advance!

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/fel-1...2xPcaAkcW8P8HAQ

This is the p/n for a valley with the blocked off heat riser cross over ports.

I have used the normal 1215 valley pan (like above) on a 440 w/ a pair of 915 heads that had been milled a lot (about .080"). It will crush down were it needs to be if that makes sense. Had to cut clearance notches on the intake so the end rails of the block didn't hold it up off the intake face of the heads.

It sucks your block has been milled so much already since you're going to be testing a few different manifolds. Having to mill the manifolds to fit the block/head combo will really hurt the resale once you find which one you like the best.

The block should have had the valley walls cut down at the same time the deck was milled. Put the heads on the block and there should be a three way match with the wall, deck and head surface all coming to a point. If there is a three way match at one point then you should be good to go.

an8sec70cuda and AndyF thanks for the advice. I ordered the 1215. might use thinner gaskets than the 30's if I can. And yes it does suck I gotta mill them, thats one reason Im gonna stick with the SD and Victor for now

I also was looking at the solid 2 piece sold by hughes.. If I can find one discount somewhere I'd love the ability to remove the valley cover without removing the heads.

Only valley plate that I know of which works with standard port heads is the one I designed for my Trick Flow heads. That was a solid plate with aluminum "bat wings" that hold the paper gaskets in place. The bat wings are sealed with RTV to the valley plate to provide a sealed up system.

Andy this is the 2 piece that works with standard or edelbrock rpm heads, so Im pretty sure it will work with my sidewinders.

http://www.manciniracing.com/hubvapl2pimo.html


I didnt know you made one I'll have to check it out

As standard course for the past 40 years I have at least 0.045" to 0.060" milled from all cylinder head intake surfaces. It eliminates all alignment and fitment issues

I'd definitely mill the heads instead of the intakes. It opens up far more opportunities in the future.

I wouldn't necessarily want to mill the heads to compensate for the block being decked. Then you've got an even more expensive set of parts married to one block. I'd rather cut the intake in that case.

Let me clarify...If all you do is deck the heads and then cut the intake face...they're good to go on anything.
But w/ the combination of heavily decked heads AND the block too...even if the top of the block has been cut to compensate, it will need to be mocked up to see.
If there is still a mismatch, I would not cut the heads more to make it up...rather cut the intake.

Let me clarify. I don't do it because of heavy milling of anything. If you mill nothing, us two 0.030" gaskets per side. If you zero deck to a typical 2.060" piston and clean up the heads, use a total of 0.045 to 0.030". No matter what you put the heads on, it will probably work. It just gives so much flexibility, and the intake seals every time too.

Here is the other beauty, I use light coating of grease on the gaskets. I'll test three intake manifolds in an evening on the dyno, or a day at the track.

If the block was zero decked for the 6pk piston it's only had maybe .025 taken off, that's not too much. As long as the heads were milled on the intake face to match was was taken off the heads he should be pretty close. You aren't going to be able to use the .030 gaskets that come with that valley pan and the fel pro gaskets suck anyway , I don't know what material they are made of but they seem to wick oil?? Get superformance gaskets , I think you can get them as thin as .010 , but you'll have to egg the intake bolt holes with all those gaskets and the block deck possibly ???

If the china walls weren't cut when the block was decked then you might have an issue trying to used a solid valley plate, especially one that would go under the edge of the head.