Rocker stands

[JimNolan]

Guys, Some of you know I'm plagued with oil leaks on my 410. I'm tearing it down now and looking for leaks. I found one coming from the left valve cover. The Edelbrock RPM intake and the Edelbrock heads matched up perfectly for a gasket to seal but I ended up gluing one gasket to the engine and the other to the valve cover. Well, it's started leaking anyway.
I'm running the Precision rocker stands w/end supports without a oil tray (I couldn't fabricate one, I tried). I'm intending to drag race the car again this year and I need your advice again.
My question is this. Will 5000 rpm (my shift point) really cause any problem with the old style rocker stands so I can use a oil tray. And, will the oil tray be beneficial to not having oil leaks at the valve cover.

[Faron]

I use The Stock Stands , and Stock Shafts , aluminum Spacers along with an Old Pro Stock engineering End stand Kit , its seen 7200 ( usuall6600 or less ) and 20 + years , the end support is the critical area , I run 135lb on the seat and 375 or so open ( Crane Solid Cam deal ) if it was a Roller setup Id use a Stronger system every where , but what I have has been fine

[NIsaacs]

I have good luck with these valve cover gaskets. 

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sce-234176/overview/make/ford

[JimNolan]

Thanks guys,
 I just got through reading a nice article by a guy that runs .548/.584 lifts that broke the end of his rocker shaft off. I'm just running .515/.540 but I don't want to break anything. So the Precision Oil stands will stay.
NIsaacs, how the hell did you find a set of gaskets that cost 39 dollars. You had to have googled " highest price gaskets made". They are 1/4" thick and sound good, so I went ahead and ordered them. God I hate oil leaks. Thanks again.

[NIsaacs]

They don't leak and as you re-use them, the price goes down : )

[jayb]

Jim, are you restricting oil to the top end of the engine?  If not, you could be pooling a lot of oil in the valve cover area, which will make any leaks worse...

[JimNolan]

Jay, I'm running the oil restrictors. I got them from the same place I got the rocker stands best I remember. Thanks

[My427stang]

Jim,

One thing you can do with the later style rocker tins is just bolt them on and let the end stands crush the tins however they want to.

After it is tightened down, it will likely reshape a few areas which will likely hit the valve springs.  A big screwdriver or small pry bar will bend them so they won't hit.

Seems caveman, but there isn't a lot that has to move around to run the later, more common tins with POP stands