Hello everybody. 455 build with Edelbrock heads and Harland Sharp full roller rockers (part #S5003). I have 9” power brake booster and I’m looking for valve cover choices that’ll fit the rockers and brake booster. Steel preferred so I can paint them, but aluminum is also a good option. Any suggestions?

 

Pretty sure that Edelbrock heads have a raised valvecover rail, if that doesnt allow enough clearence with stock covers, add a second gasket. As a last result, Rocket Racing(and others) sell valve cover spacers in 3/8 and 3/4 thickness to raise the valve cover of your choice

 

Chrome tall stamped steel covers are available on eBay, you can run them with HS rockers and not have to removed the baffle, I run them on my small block with tons of room by the booster. I would think they'd be fine with a BB also.

I scuffed and painted them too.

 

I’m using stock stamped steel Olds valve covers. I found some spacers on EBay that go between the head and valve cover. I think they measure 3/8 inch. They fit and work well.

 

As long as you are not using the tall nuts they will fit under stock valve covers with the baffles removed. I used the shaft mounted rockers and fit fine.

 

I’ve used the same spacers with stock covers for 20 years, can’t remember thickness, they’re barely visible. Red car has the cheapy eBay tall, chrome covers, they’re quite decent but PCV fittings are not in middle of cover if that matters to you. Chrome actually pretty good, just starting to get rusty after year round winter driving and salt in CT for 12 years. Had the kid kept a coat of wax on them the would likely still be nice.

After a “pre spacer” experiment with removing baffles and having an oil sucking issue I would not recommend running baffle-less covers. I had a clearance problem even with HS pedestal rockers back in the day. I have never tried the short nuts on normal roller rockers but I’ll bet it is a close call with stock covers.

 

I am running Harland Sharp S5016 I think that’s the number but could be wrong under stock notched valve covers on my 455. Had the motor built by someone so I’m not sure how it was done but it was done and I have no problems. I provided him with all three of the Harland Sharp rockers arms and he said the one I went with was a better fit than the S5001 or S5003. On stock “C” iron heads.

 

My new 455 build has the Harlan Sharp roller rockers with the M/T aluminum valve covers. We had to double the valve cover gaskets for clearance but works and looks great. Good luck.

 

The rockers are probably NOT the problem. The issue is more likely the tall "Polylock" rocker nuts.

When it was me using Comp Cams roller rockers, I drilled four holes in the baffle of each stock valve cover, on center and just slightly larger than the OD of the tall nuts. Be careful to remove all swarf from the baffle, and smooth the rough edge of each hole. Fits like a glove. Costs essentially nothing. Looks stock.

 

You are correct! I forgot about that. My stock valve covers were modded like this as well to enable them to fit.