Author Topic: FE Power Cast Aluminum Valve Covers  (Read 52515 times)

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jayb

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FE Power Cast Aluminum Valve Covers
« on: March 14, 2017, 11:12:57 AM »
These valve covers are now in process.  I am hoping to have prototypes by the end of April, with the production parts available sometime in June.  So far I have not finalized the filler cap situation, but am planning for a screw-in style.  Anyone who is interested in a set of these can get on my list by emailing me at jayb@fepower.net, posting under this thread, or calling me at 952-428-9035.  No deposit required, and if you have to decline delivery when the time comes, that's OK, but please don't say you'd like a pair if you are not serious.  I will ship off the list on a first come, first served basis.  Pricing for the valve covers, plain without the screw-in plugs or breathers, will be $259 per pair plus shipping, including attachment hardware. 

The valve covers are pentroof style with a fine sand-cast finish.  I expect to have multiple variations of these valve covers available as machining options.  For example, plain cast, each cover machined for one breather, each cover machined for two breathers, fins on the top, top cut off with a plexiglass cover so that the valve train is visible, cut for master cylinder clearance, etc. etc.  These valve covers will fit the Dove end stands without any modification.  Also custom scripts machined into the top of the valve cover will also be available for additional cost of $50-$100 per pair, depending on the complexity of the design and the CNC time.

First production run will be 50 pairs of valve covers, with a follow-up production run of another 50 pair.  After that, depending on if they sell, I may continue to build them, or I may discontinue them.  Some pictures of a 3D printed model of the valve cover are shown below; the third picture shows a cover with the top machined off, that could be fitted with a plexiglass top.  I will post pictures of the prototypes as soon as I have them.  More information is available on page 8 of the forum thread listed below.  Thanks for your interest in these parts - Jay

http://fepower.net/simplemachinesforum/index.php?topic=4481.0





« Last Edit: March 14, 2017, 01:15:20 PM by jayb »
Jay Brown
- 1969 Mach 1, Drag Week 2005 Winner NA/BB, 511" FE (10.60s @ 129); Drag Week 2007 Runner-Up PA/BB, 490" Supercharged FE (9.35 @ 151)
- 1964 Ford Galaxie, Drag Week 2009 Winner Modified NA (9.50s @ 143), 585" SOHC
- 1969 Shelby Clone, Drag Week 2015 Winner Modified NA (Average 8.98 @ 149), 585" SOHC

   

fekbmax

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Re: FE Power Cast Aluminum Valve Covers
« Reply #1 on: March 14, 2017, 11:40:07 AM »
Sweet, great to hear.
Would a custom script be available on any of the first run of covers ?
Would the plexiglass covers be removable or fixed ?
Sorry for the questions. 
Keith.  KB MAX Racing.

newfalconowner

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Re: FE Power Cast Aluminum Valve Covers
« Reply #2 on: March 14, 2017, 11:50:02 AM »
exactally how tall are they? The stock pentroofs I have are getting close,, if any taller then them I wont be able to use yours. any plans to make them shorter then the stock ones?

blykins

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Re: FE Power Cast Aluminum Valve Covers
« Reply #3 on: March 14, 2017, 11:57:25 AM »
Put me down for a set with the plexi on the top....
Brent Lykins
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jayb

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Re: FE Power Cast Aluminum Valve Covers
« Reply #4 on: March 14, 2017, 01:05:15 PM »
Sweet, great to hear.
Would a custom script be available on any of the first run of covers ?
Would the plexiglass covers be removable or fixed ?
Sorry for the questions.

Yes, I will do the custom script option starting right away.  The plexiglass tops will be bolt-on and probably O-ring sealed.
Jay Brown
- 1969 Mach 1, Drag Week 2005 Winner NA/BB, 511" FE (10.60s @ 129); Drag Week 2007 Runner-Up PA/BB, 490" Supercharged FE (9.35 @ 151)
- 1964 Ford Galaxie, Drag Week 2009 Winner Modified NA (9.50s @ 143), 585" SOHC
- 1969 Shelby Clone, Drag Week 2015 Winner Modified NA (Average 8.98 @ 149), 585" SOHC

   

jayb

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Re: FE Power Cast Aluminum Valve Covers
« Reply #5 on: March 14, 2017, 01:31:30 PM »
exactally how tall are they? The stock pentroofs I have are getting close,, if any taller then them I wont be able to use yours. any plans to make them shorter then the stock ones?

No plans to go shorter than stock.  The sheet metal Ford pentroofs that I have here measure 4.75" from the gasket sealing surface to the top of the cover.  The Cobra LeMans covers are taller, measure 4.965".  My covers are about the same as that, just a little shorter at 4.945".  However, there is room for me to machine about 0.200" off the top of my covers, if space is an issue.
Jay Brown
- 1969 Mach 1, Drag Week 2005 Winner NA/BB, 511" FE (10.60s @ 129); Drag Week 2007 Runner-Up PA/BB, 490" Supercharged FE (9.35 @ 151)
- 1964 Ford Galaxie, Drag Week 2009 Winner Modified NA (9.50s @ 143), 585" SOHC
- 1969 Shelby Clone, Drag Week 2015 Winner Modified NA (Average 8.98 @ 149), 585" SOHC

   

jayb

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Re: FE Power Cast Aluminum Valve Covers
« Reply #6 on: March 14, 2017, 01:32:38 PM »
Put me down for a set with the plexi on the top....

FYI, the covers will be the same price for the aluminum part, but the machined plexiglass and O-ring seal will add to the cost.  Don't know how much yet...
Jay Brown
- 1969 Mach 1, Drag Week 2005 Winner NA/BB, 511" FE (10.60s @ 129); Drag Week 2007 Runner-Up PA/BB, 490" Supercharged FE (9.35 @ 151)
- 1964 Ford Galaxie, Drag Week 2009 Winner Modified NA (9.50s @ 143), 585" SOHC
- 1969 Shelby Clone, Drag Week 2015 Winner Modified NA (Average 8.98 @ 149), 585" SOHC

   

XR7

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Re: FE Power Cast Aluminum Valve Covers
« Reply #7 on: March 14, 2017, 04:18:06 PM »
Looks real good Jay! I was wondering what you have been up to... So is the grey colored area on top where you would mill flat and put the plexi top cover on? Hard to tell for sure but looks like it. If that is the case, what is the height for this option?

Put me down for a set with plexiglass top, if I change my mind later, I would go ahead and get "lightning bolts & Mercury" script, like a 65-66 Merc valve cover. One or the other or possibly both.

Heck... are you sure you can't just run the 3D plastic covers? I think they have a high heat material that can be printed... this and a plastic tunnel ram would look good on your adapter and be LIGHTWEIGHT, maybe for a drag car?

Thanks for your efforts. Kudos!
68 Cougar XR7 GT street legal, 9.47@144.53, 3603# at the line, 487 HR center oiler, single carb, Jerico 4 speed, 10.5 tires, stock(er) suspension, all steel full interior

GJCAT427

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Re: FE Power Cast Aluminum Valve Covers
« Reply #8 on: March 14, 2017, 04:24:15 PM »
Jay, put me down for a set with the filler cap. This should be sweet with the Tunnel Port/ Tunnel Ram I built! By the way I made a plexy glass top so I can see what the gas flow looks like! Next is getting the long block built! Garry

JamesonRacing

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Re: FE Power Cast Aluminum Valve Covers
« Reply #9 on: March 14, 2017, 04:31:19 PM »
Hi Jay,

How about the valve spring and end stand clearance on the inside?  Seems like there's always some interference at the ends and the lower bolt holes.  Would be nice to not have to spend a couple hours with the dynafile to get them to clear the valve gear.
1966 Fairlane GT, Silver Blue/Black 496/C4 (9.93@133)
1966 Fairlane GT, Nightmist Blue/Black 465/TKO (11.41@122)
1966 Fairlane GTA Conv, Antique Bronze/Black, 418EFI/C6
1966 F250 C/S, Rangoon Red, 445/T19
1965 Falcon Futura 4-door, Turquoise, EF! Z2363/4R70W

jayb

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Re: FE Power Cast Aluminum Valve Covers
« Reply #10 on: March 14, 2017, 04:53:17 PM »
David, I checked that and it should be plenty.  I made sure that the Dove end stands will fit, and I think those are the ones that usually cause problems.  I also checked with 1.55" diameter springs installed on the heads, and it looked like there was at least 0.100" clearance everywhere, so up to a 1.75" diameter spring should fit.
Jay Brown
- 1969 Mach 1, Drag Week 2005 Winner NA/BB, 511" FE (10.60s @ 129); Drag Week 2007 Runner-Up PA/BB, 490" Supercharged FE (9.35 @ 151)
- 1964 Ford Galaxie, Drag Week 2009 Winner Modified NA (9.50s @ 143), 585" SOHC
- 1969 Shelby Clone, Drag Week 2015 Winner Modified NA (Average 8.98 @ 149), 585" SOHC

   

jayb

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Re: FE Power Cast Aluminum Valve Covers
« Reply #11 on: March 14, 2017, 04:58:40 PM »
Looks real good Jay! I was wondering what you have been up to... So is the grey colored area on top where you would mill flat and put the plexi top cover on? Hard to tell for sure but looks like it. If that is the case, what is the height for this option?

Put me down for a set with plexiglass top, if I change my mind later, I would go ahead and get "lightning bolts & Mercury" script, like a 65-66 Merc valve cover. One or the other or possibly both.

Heck... are you sure you can't just run the 3D plastic covers? I think they have a high heat material that can be printed... this and a plastic tunnel ram would look good on your adapter and be LIGHTWEIGHT, maybe for a drag car?

Thanks for your efforts. Kudos!

The cutoff for the plexiglas version is about 3" high, a little lower than the gray plastic on the complete cover.  It would be about the height of the cutoff cover shown in the pictures.  As far as making them from plastic, I don't know if that would work or not.  I think from a material standpoint ABS plastic might work, but if you think about how the parts are 3D printed, there are some areas where very small gaps can occur, because the plastic goes on in thin layers.  Around curves there may be an issue.  The prints shown here are made with a material called PLA.  PLA has a fairly low melting point and wouldn't work on the car due to temperature considerations.  ABS would I think, but ABS shrinks dramatically when it cools, and my efforts to print large ABS parts have not been successful because of that.  However, I am in the process of printing some intake manifolds for testing on the dyno, and that will really tell me if this will work or not.  Stay tuned...
Jay Brown
- 1969 Mach 1, Drag Week 2005 Winner NA/BB, 511" FE (10.60s @ 129); Drag Week 2007 Runner-Up PA/BB, 490" Supercharged FE (9.35 @ 151)
- 1964 Ford Galaxie, Drag Week 2009 Winner Modified NA (9.50s @ 143), 585" SOHC
- 1969 Shelby Clone, Drag Week 2015 Winner Modified NA (Average 8.98 @ 149), 585" SOHC

   

thatdarncat

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Re: FE Power Cast Aluminum Valve Covers
« Reply #12 on: March 14, 2017, 05:13:31 PM »
Jay, a question has come up, so I'll ask - do you think for an additional charge the tall bolt bosses could be machined down to the flange level for someone who might want to use studs instead? Is there enough material? of course the machined area wouldn't have the same cast finish as the rest of the valve cover.
Kevin Rolph

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1966 7 litre Galaxie
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1968 Torino GT 390
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1978 Lincoln Mk V

KMcCullah

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Re: FE Power Cast Aluminum Valve Covers
« Reply #13 on: March 14, 2017, 06:19:07 PM »
Put me down for a set, Jay. I don't see an issue with the 1 1/4 filler holes either. The neck on a quart of VR1 will fit down in there nicely. 
Kevin McCullah


jayb

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Re: FE Power Cast Aluminum Valve Covers
« Reply #14 on: March 14, 2017, 06:49:19 PM »
Jay, a question has come up, so I'll ask - do you think for an additional charge the tall bolt bosses could be machined down to the flange level for someone who might want to use studs instead? Is there enough material? of course the machined area wouldn't have the same cast finish as the rest of the valve cover.

That would be no problem, I could have that as a machining option - Jay
Jay Brown
- 1969 Mach 1, Drag Week 2005 Winner NA/BB, 511" FE (10.60s @ 129); Drag Week 2007 Runner-Up PA/BB, 490" Supercharged FE (9.35 @ 151)
- 1964 Ford Galaxie, Drag Week 2009 Winner Modified NA (9.50s @ 143), 585" SOHC
- 1969 Shelby Clone, Drag Week 2015 Winner Modified NA (Average 8.98 @ 149), 585" SOHC