I'm building a 455 BB motor to replace the 350 in my 1969 Cutlass. The build includes Edelbrock Performer aluminum intake manifold, Gen 1 Performer heads, Bullet roller cam and lifters and roller rockers . I understand I'll need to address the valve covers and limited space under the A/C and master cylinder positions. I've identified chrome, dished valve covers through OPGI, part #C240691, but I'm not certain their tall enough to fit the roller rockers. Raising them with a thicker manifold gasket or a spacer risks clearance interference with the A/C and master cylinder. I'm looking for feedback from members who may have addressed this issue in the past.

 

What roller rocker setup are you using? Give us as much info as you can on this. Some of our readers have had success with removing part of the internal baffle from the stock valve covers to get clearance for stud mounted roller rockers and short poly locks are available to help. I used 2 of the non baffled '64 or '65 valve covers and cut holes to use Mopar baffled breathers. My rocker set up was Harland Sharp stud mounts.

top view with Mopar baffle

inside of non baffled valve cover

 

Comp Cams CNC milled aluminum stud mount 1.6 roller rockers.

 

I have a similar setup to yours.

I wanted to keep my engine looking stock, externally. So, I did some extra things to accomplish that.

I used shorter adjustment nuts and removed the baffles from my 1970 covers. Using clay on the high points and rotating the engine by hand, I found I didn't need thick valve-cover gaskets.

I put stock Olds external, mesh-filled breathers on both valve covers. Those were enough to keep oil mist out of the air cleaner.

However, the dual vent required me to fabricate a PCV system that pulled from the valley area, as was done on W-30 and 4-speed engines.

Because roller lifters prevent using the turkey tray intake gasket, I needed to create an oil dropout mesh-and-retainer device under the PCV intake port to keep valley-area oil spray from being inhaled.

 

Anybody got a link to the short poly locks?

 

I gave you the COMP Cams part number for the short poly locks in your other thread.

 

I am running stock covers with the scorpion rollers. I simply cut out the baffles except under the vent port and spot welded that piece back in, lots of room and the breathers still work as they should.