Does anyone know if thee's enough meat on the underside of the manifold to grind some away?
Here's the deal--- my latest project has the new x-ram on it & a set of cast aluminum valvecovers from Ray Barton. The whole set-up looks good in my '68 A-body but I can't pull the valvecovers off!
It seems the casting is too thick or the x-ram protrudes out too far, or both, to allow me to clear the inner fender. My initial thought is there just might be enough material on the x-ram to allow some grinding to give me a 1/8in or so that I need clear. OR does anyone know of a "thin" (?) valve cover that'll clear the manifold & still allow me to use the Barton rockerarm system?

Even with stamped steel valve covers you need to grind on the bottom of the xram to get the top row of valve cover nuts off. And with cast covers it's tough to get them off the passenger side. Sometimes have to use bolts instead of studs.

Thanks! The problem seems to be towards the front of the manifold. I'm already using bolts but there's just that last little bit that seems to be stopping me from getting the covers off.

I know a guy in mich. That sonic tested and milled the lower outside part of the xram to aleviate this issue. I started out with the duel plug valve covers as they are so thin you can squeeze them in to help get them off, but being thin they bend at the bolt holes easily and then don't seal very well. I ended up going with chrome covers with short studs and acorn topped hold downs by mr gasket. Seems to work, but I do have to take the pass. Side shock loose and slowly work the cover up and out.