Author Topic: Jay's Clear Vaccum Formed Valve Covers (Read 6062 times)

1967 XR7 GT · « **on:** April 11, 2018, 03:17:51 PM »

Checking to see if there is an interest in Jay's Vacuum Form Covers, but ones without any Breathers or Baffles what so ever. I want to be clear, there will no provisions to use any type of Breather in the covers, these will be just plain clear covers.

In my discussion with Jay, I told him I would be using a PCV on the back of my Sidewinder and a fill Tube & Breather cap on the front, so I would have a positive crankcase flow and the covers could have breathers or not, so he said he could do some and just not add breathers.

Now, Jay still intends to provide the clear covers with Breather Caps & Baffles, but not until he is able to work out a Baffle System he is happy with, and no he didn't mention a time frame for that to happen.

So, Jay said he may do a small run of these clear covers without breathers in May, and how many depends on additional interest, he said he was going to see if there was any interest in them at the FE Reunion and said it was ok if I posted about it here. As he has already stated the covers limit which rocker setups can be used with these covers, so keep that in mind.

So, I think the PCV and Fill Tube with a breather will be enough. Actually, I had found a breather cap that has a tube for a hose that I intend to run to the bottom of my air cleaner instead of having the breather cap vent to atmosphere, and even thinking on adding another PCV in line to the air cleaner ? Also, I was thing about an electric Vacuum Pump. I will be running one vacuum pump as it is for my brakes, actually a vacuum tank and a pump for my power bakes, so one more for PCV is an option.

Post interests here, I myself currently want 1 set, so count starts @ 1

fryedaddy · « **Reply #1 on:** April 24, 2018, 07:44:54 PM »

i have a interest in a set.i think i asked him about some last year.number 2 interested

ntheogen · « **Reply #2 on:** April 26, 2018, 08:43:27 PM »

I'll take a set or two. Interesting that PSE did the Cleveland to FE adapter and clear valve covers a long time ago too....

jayb · « **Reply #3 on:** April 27, 2018, 09:04:40 PM »

I have my 68 Mustang with the clear covers on it at the FE Reunion today and tomorrow. There is a sign on it saying if you are interested in the covers without any breathers to come and talk to me. If I can get another few people who want them I will do a small production run in May.

RJP · « **Reply #4 on:** April 28, 2018, 02:51:55 PM »

Jay, Any chance you will sell just one clear valve cover separately? Just looking to monitor over oiling of the valve train. No breathers or other holes needed. Thanks,

MeanGene · « **Reply #5 on:** April 29, 2018, 12:05:45 PM »

How thick will the plastic be? I would be interested in a set for my test stand, to monitor oiling, but would think moisture would cloud them up. Should be simple to tap in a couple fittings to pull a little vacuum to remove the moisture? What will they sell for?

jayb · « **Reply #6 on:** May 01, 2018, 07:46:02 AM »

Looks like there is enough interest for doing this, so I will be making up a few sets towards the end of May. Price is $295 per pair, I would sell a single for $150. The polycarbonate I start with is 0.093" thick, but it will get thinner in some spots as it is vacuum formed over the mold. Email me at jayb@fepower.net and I will put you on the list for a set or a single, whatever. Thanks, Jay

jayb · « **Reply #7 on:** May 20, 2018, 09:27:17 PM »

Making some progress on these, thought I would post a picture of all the vacuum formed polycarbonate valve covers that I made up over the weekend. I'm about half done with machining of the rails, and once that is complete I can start assembling these things. Also, I may have figured out an easy way to include the baffle under the breathers, so I'm going to make up one set for myself with the baffle in place and test run it on my 68 Mustang starting in a week or so. If it pans out as a good solution, I will be able to start thinking about another production run of these this fall.

bsprowl · « **Reply #8 on:** May 21, 2018, 08:15:10 PM »

Is there anything you can't do?

Another fine job by Jay.

Bob

cjshaker · « **Reply #9 on:** May 21, 2018, 09:59:03 PM »

He needs to invent a replicator, like they have on the Enterprise, to replicate himself. You know, like Michael Keaton in Multiplicity?

jayb · « **Reply #10 on:** May 21, 2018, 10:28:17 PM »

Thanks guys, its actually kind of fun figuring out how to do all this stuff. The vacuum forming thing took some practice, I've probably wrecked 10-15 sheets of plastic getting it right, but now my success rate is about 90% (still have one that doesn't come out right once in a while). Someday I'm going to try to do an SOHC version, which would REALLY be cool...

machoneman · « **Reply #11 on:** May 22, 2018, 07:58:32 AM »

Quote from: jayb on May 21, 2018, 10:28:17 PM

Thanks guys, its actually kind of fun figuring out how to do all this stuff. The vacuum forming thing took some practice, I've probably wrecked 10-15 sheets of plastic getting it right, but now my success rate is about 90% (still have one that doesn't come out right once in a while). Someday I'm going to try to do an SOHC version, which would REALLY be cool...

A clear Cammer cover to show off that great looking valvetrain? Sweet!

jayb · « **Reply #12 on:** May 23, 2018, 08:29:03 PM »

First set finished up:

I made one modification from the first design, and made the bottom rail of the valve cover thicker. On the first design I used 3/8" thick aluminum, and this actually tended to bend a little bit when you torqued down the valve cover bolts. The new ones use a 3/4" thick bottom rail, and they seem to be much more rigid. They will also provide a little more clearance to the valvetrain.

cammerfe · « **Reply #13 on:** May 23, 2018, 10:58:01 PM »

Class stuff, Jay!

KS

wsu0702 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 24, 2018, 12:51:53 AM »

I am in for a set. I saw Paul Bedouin's original PSE vac-form tooling on ebay a couple years ago and was trying to convince myself to buy it.

gdaddy01 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 24, 2018, 02:18:43 PM »

time for a new shop stool ?

jayb · « **Reply #16 on:** May 25, 2018, 02:55:35 PM »

Here's a video of the valve covers on my 68 Mustang, with the blue LEDs installed and also with the revised oil cap and baffle arrangement. The video makes the LEDs look really bright, but they aren't quite that bright in person. So far with only 75 or so miles on this new set of clear covers, the LEDs are holding up OK and I don't have any oil coming out of the breathers. So, if it lasts the summer that way hopefully the breather situation will be resolved...

https://youtu.be/mVAnrZyGHSg

GJCAT427 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 25, 2018, 03:29:47 PM »

Looks good Jay. Doesn't seem to be a lot of oil flying around the heads as it does when the covers are off. I`m surprised that the drains are clearing the rails out. Flow seems to be maybe half of what you see with standard rockers. Maybe cause of the roller rockers?

jayb · « **Reply #18 on:** May 25, 2018, 03:31:39 PM »

It flies around pretty good at 2000 RPM, but not at idle. I do have 0.070" Holley Jets in the heads to restrict some oil to the top end. I'm not sure if the roller rockers restrict further or not...

jayb · « **Reply #19 on:** June 02, 2018, 01:14:52 PM »

I have a few sets of these left after my limited production run, for more info see my post in the Vendor Classifieds section. Thanks, Jay

ntheogen · « **Reply #20 on:** June 02, 2018, 04:23:04 PM »

Just received mine in the mail and opened them up, they look great Jay thanks so much.

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Author Topic: Jay's Clear Vaccum Formed Valve Covers (Read 6062 times)