Valve cover recommendations

Hello all..

I'm looking for a recommendation for a B1-O sheet metal valve cover... I'm not a fan of the cast B1 valve covers and currently am using the Williams Bros sheet metal... However the flange is so wide, I can not install using studs... Seems the T-D 1.7 rockers will hit the flange... So I am currently using wing nuts to hold the valve cover on..

Does anyone have any recommendations for another manufacturer that would accept studs?

Thanks in advance

Take a look at the 440source ones. I happen to have a set and Tom Hemphill told me they work great

Found a picture but on this site it will probably be sideways

I've bought and used several different brands of polish aluminum sheet metal valve covers, one set needed trimming of the flange on the inside ends in the corners to get them to slide on and off with short mounting studs with a set of Harland Sharp 1.6 ratio single shaft rocker kit

I would check with Doug Lee:

http://propan.net/
Doug Lee Engineuity
Address: 9201 S. 650 Rd., Miami, Oklahoma 74354
Phone: 918-542-4686
Email: dlee@propan.net

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DougLeeEngineuity

Those look almost like the Williams Bros I have now... Any chance we can get a pic of the inside and flanges?

Yeah Cab... thats the problems I have... we've trimmed so much of the inside flange, it makes sealing the gasket difficult... plus, the B1 uses the 1.7 rockers...

I guess if I cant find anything decent, I will go back to the cast B1 covers

Thank you... I will make a call to them next week

I ended up having to find a set of the early original B1 valve covers to make the B1 V.C. gaskets work

Thats another issue... without a front mount distributor, its difficult to fit the passenger side valve cover

I also hate the B1 cast covers.

I am pretty sure that I will be able to make my M/T cast aluminum covers work with my new B1 MC heads, but won't know for sure for a few more months. Its been a lot of work to make them fit.

But if you want a sheetmetal set that fits, supposedly these are the way to go for B1 MC (and standard B1) heads but not cheap at $600.

http://www.billetfab.com/

I like them... Thanks

Sorry it took so long but here are some pictures of the 440source valve covers

I have used a few dif. sets of jeff Johnson covers, all with good results, as you know I am currently running a set of billet covers with a one piece o ring to seal instead of a gasket,if you go with the jeff Johnson covers, he may be able to install them in your covers, I know there is one of our mopar brothers in Australia I think who is/was making billet covers for B1 heads,that would be the route I would go if you can find him....

Don, LA360...…. is the guy who I was talking about who has billet B1 covers

Pittsburgracer's pictures of the 440source valve covers seem to show that there is a lot of room, internally, to accomodate a variety of rocker arm/valve train arrangements, and cost effective as well. Cover sidewalls seem to be set at the outer portion of the gasket rail, freeing up a lot of room for rockers. They appear to be just what I'm looking for. Thanks for posting the pics. Bill

I have the 440 source sheetmetal ones in the pics. They are great. Fit over T and D rockers, and they don't leak. As expected slight grinding in the distributor area but that's it.

Glad I could help. When I dropped my 572 in my Duster I had to use the valve covers that came with the B1 heads because of master cylinder clearance. I now have everything to move the master cylinder over and will do so after race season is over.

wow. what headers are those?

A good buddy of mine made them for me. The car was built originally for a small block engine and ran great but all my go fast parts are for big blocks. Between the extra bars, stock firewall and stock frame rail heads-up rules it made for a TIGHT fit.




Untitled by John Cadamore, on Flickr



Untitled by John Cadamore, on Flickr



Untitled by John Cadamore, on Flickr

I ran the same covers you have on your car on the cuda for 8 years with studs and zero issues. We used a 12 point nut and other than some minor clearancing for the nut had NO ISSUES. Had a set of Billet Fab ones as well and no issues other than the price. I inquired about the billet stuff but never got anything, even though I tried. We also have used 440 source ones, the blank undrilled ones and the original cast as Pittsburgh is showing and the later indy style ones. The Indy style ones require some clearancing around distributor as did the source ones.

I have not had the time or the inclination to make any more sets. My day job and family life leaves me with very little in the way of spare time.

If I was to ever make any more, I'll put the word out on here

Thanks Alan...

And thanks to everyone that replied in this thread..

didnt jegs or summit have b-1 valve covers for sale,cant remember which one,does anyone has the part number for those

I don't know if it will get you anywhere, but Harshman Auto does billet valve covers for Brett Miller. With a bit of interest, they might look at doing some B1 covers.
Billet covers are a bit of a pain in the butt for me, as they take so long to machine.

I am very happy with these I bought from Mancini. No leaks and they have a nice baffle under the hole as I run a PCV valve setup and its never sucked any oil at all and the PCV works great with them. Ron

I thought I should give an update as to what I found..

I called and spoke with Jeff Johnson asking about the quality of his valve covers... The main point of interest is 1/2" rails, where most of the others are 3/8". I asked about clearancing the rails to fit over the T&D rockers and still being able to use studs instead of bolts to hold the cover down... his answer was straight up NO... you can not use studs with his covers.. I then asked about cutting a groove for an O-ring seal, his answer again was NO... I then asked about lead time and cost and that persuaded me to look elsewhere.

I then called Williams Performance as asked about their covers... 3/8" rail and they are willing to clearance the inside of the rail to the maximum they feel comfortable with... which is .100" Then asked about lead time and cost... They can make the covers next day and the cost was almost 1/3 of the Johnson brand covers... So I ordered a new pair.

These are the same exact valve covers I've used on my B1-O heads, so I know the quality is very decent, they look pretty and now they are new..

Hope this helps anyone in the future that is looking for new valve covers.

just get the 440source fabbed ones

post a picture of your new ones.

I have had very good luck with Williams oil pans and valve covers over the years on many applications. B1MC set

Well I am anal as heck. I did not want sheet metal valve covers and hate the B1 cast covers - they supposedly don't fit B1MC heads anyway. Plus I wanted O-Rings.

This took WAY more time and effort than it it was worth, but like I said, I'm anal........... I now know how to make them if I ever make another set.

I have B1MC heads with the T&D 1.7 individual pair rockers. In order to clear the rockers, I had to offset the M/T covers 0.175". For good measure I ground on the cover just a bit, but that was not really necessary.

Very cool, nice work! More pics! : D