anybody have any experience putting a big block refitted with pro com/e heads & tall valve covers in a 69 A body with A/C & factory 9" vacuum booster. I've got the alt & A/C bracket under control. Just concerned about the booster & A/C box on the firewall.

 

The factory booster is larger than 9". The factory valve covers have notches for a reason. Your only option is to go to a smaller booster and perform surgery on the HVAC box.

By the way, yes you can fit un-notched stock valve covers on an A-body. It's tight but they fit. Anything taller is a problem.

 

Thanks Joe, however the poly locks on the rockers won't permit.

 

They won't permit the stock booster or HVAC box either.

 

I guess I will swap to the 7" booster & do a lil glass work. She's ready for paint.

 

How much vacuum does your engine even make? The 7" booster is of marginal value even with stock manifold vacuum levels. For that matter, will you have enough vacuum to operate the flapper doors in the HVAC system either? Consider manual brakes. The factory manual disks on my 70 W-30 stop fine without excessive pedal pressure. If you MUST have power brakes, consider a hydroboost system.

 

They make a shorter poly lock setup, some of the other guys are using them.

 

Hey, do you have any info on the stubby poly locks, much rather go with that!!
Joe I tried to send you a P/M yesterday& I just got a note it kicked back. Inline tube has all the necessary goods to ditch the booster I would just like to chat before pulling the trigger.
Thanks a pile, S

 

I have a 455 with procomp heads and a hyd roller cam in a 69 442. Car has stock booster and ac box on the fire wall. Motor fits fine.the motor is in drjr56 albums page 2 and 3. the valve covers are taller than stock for my cam and roller rockers.

 

drjr...where do I go to see your pics???

 

click on albums at the top of this page.. go to page 2 or 3 you'll see a bronze motor or look for drjr56

 

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...+post+car.html

 

thanks firefrost....I'm still learning how things work here. slam 1918 sorry those pic are so small.but if those valve covers are like your,my motor went in pretty easy.But there were four guys helping.

 

well burn my exhaust, sure looks like it fits in there fine. Hey drjr, I couldn't make out what you did with the A/C bracket for clearance on the taller valve covers. BTW any idea how much hp your makin ??

Thanks for the IT work firefrost

 

As far as the ac goes the box you see on the fire wall is all that is left,everything else is out...not sure what brackets,it's been that way for awhile. The hp as far as I can say should be around 450.The heads have a 5 angle valve job,and the cam is a hyd roller 236/240@50....the carb is a 750 holley,performer manifold.I look at other similar builds to see were I might be. 450 is close I think.

 

there's a big *** 2 piece bracket that lays over the front 1/4 of the valve cover. I may go to the stock cover & shorten the poly locks. Bernard Mondello did the heads, same intake, Howard 219/229@50, re worked Qjet, ARH headers. I'm gonna put her on the dyno before she goes back in. How much clearance do you have from the air cleaner & the hood?

 

Ah ha I do remember that bracket.Ok that's long gone.Clearance with my air cleaner is fine,but I think it's about an inch with a regular base. Your setup it going to be very strong.I'm sure you'll be happy...for a streeter the Qjet is a good option.I had a re worked one on my 400 and it went 13's at 100mph,with decent mpg on the street.My 455 with a 750 holley not as good probably about 7 or 8 mpg.

 

About the "stubby" polylocks -- When I found that problem with them fitting under my W-30 chrome valve covers (which i wanted to continue using) I just took the polylocks over to my friend with a lathe and had him cut them down enough to clear -- never did know why they made them with that deep of a shank before the threads started anyway? A cheap fix when you got "friends" with the right tools!! LOL

 

funny you said that as that is exactly my plan !!

 

Its a no-brainer once you look down inside one of them and think: Why the heck is this shank soooo deep? The only limitation is that you must insure that you leave enough threads for the set-screw to get a good hold!!

 

Interesting. Just email me directly:

joe_padavano@rocketmail.com