Aluminum valve cover problems

[Anonymous]

I recently picked up one of the aluminum valve covers. What's the trick to getting it bolted up? Do you have to use special hardware like cap head bolts or similiar? Also, on one side of it it looks like the holes have been elongated, is this common?

Also, is it possible for the head to leak oil? I've had a constant oil leak for some time. I thought it was from the valve cover but has recently gotten worse and appears to be coming from below the valve cover.

 

[rbohm]

8) aluminum valve covers require longer bolts due to the thicker valve cover gasket rail. as for oil leaks from the head, it is possible, but more likely the head gasket is leaking.

 

[Anonymous]

I know I need longer. I can't get a regular bolt to go because the valve cover isn't clearanced enough to clear the head of the bolt, let alone get a socket on it.. I went and got some allen head cap bolts today to try. Just curious what others have done with theirs.

 

[rbohm]

8) in your case i have also used allen head bolts, and i have used studs as well. sometimes the nuts used on studs are smaller and you can fit the socket to the nuts. there are also thin wall sockets available for situations like this.

 

[Anonymous]

Thin wall socket won't solve this. What about the elongated holes, is that the way they originally come.

 

[AzCoupe]

Allen head or cap bolts are the easiest to use, you can also use custom V/C bolts. Standard bolts don't work due to the thickness of the casting, verses stamped covers. The holes were elongated to assist fitment.


Here's just a few options

 

[Anonymous]

should they all be elongated or just the two.

 

[hasa68mustang]

should they all be elongated or just the two.

just the 2, I used some bolts form where I work... they were some grade 9.8 or something... I just used them cause they were black... not because I Was afraid of it leaking and torquing it down to 70 ft lbs...

 

[jcbnoles]

I recently purchased the aluminum valve cover from mike. I am experiencing the same problem with the bolts. What bolts did you use - size, length, style etc.. and where did you find them. I have searched the usual suspects, Autozone, Advanced, NPD, CJs and MU. Not much luck and not real sure. I have a 1967 head.
Thanks in advance.

Jon

 

[Bort62]

Just get some black oxide SHCS, 1/4-20.

Mcmaster.com carries them. I am not sure how long, but 5/8 or 3/4 is probably a good guess.

 

[Gene Fiore]

I also used allen bolts with small lock washers. Got them from True Value...they have all the bolts you would ever need. Can't remember the exact length, but I just got something a little bit longer than the stock bolts to compensate for the thicker cover.