Valve Cover Alteration

[LEB Ben]

Hey fellas...decided I wanted to get a new set of 351M/400 valve covers. However, I'm not too thrilled with the selection available. I like the finned design, but I don't like Edlebrock products and it's hard to find the old MT covers. So that leaves me with the Ford Racing polished aluminum finned covers. However, I equate having Ford Racing involved with a vehicle that doesn't actually race to ricers with fart cans or somebody who plasters stickers all over their rig.


Anyway, I've decided I'm gonna get the Ford covers (when the funds allow). I also decided I'm gonna mill out the word 'Racing' on the covers so it's flush. I always liked the covers for SB's that had the blue oval and said '302 Powered' or simply had the Blue Oval and the displacement. I'm thinking I'm going to get '400' cut and then put those where 'racing' was.

Here's a set similar to what I'm looking at:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/FMS-M-6582-A342R/?rtype=10

The set I want has the text and oval stretched across almost the whole top of the cover.

My questions:

1) Anyone have suggestions on the font for '400'. And should it be slanted?

2) If these are aluminum covers, the numbers should be aluminum also, right?

3) How in the hell should I attach the numbers to with stand the heat?

 

[Truckin4life]

Weld them on....

I dont equate the ford racing like that...
Its a ford product and part of the "higher end" line up.
You pay more for it, but get a better product as well...
I see it as there stamp for quality.

 

[LEB Ben]

Alright...figured welding would be the way to, but I'm definitely not capable of welding aluminum and I don't wanna warp the cover. Guess I suck and I'll have to outsource that portion.


As for having the 'racing' on the valve cover...I just think it's tacky, like a permanent sticker. If you see a stock 351M with those valve covers on it, my first thought is not 'oh look, there's quality.' Usually I think the owner is a blow hard trying to be cool...essentially being a poser.

 

[FordF-SuperDuty]

But yours is not stock.

 

[LEB Ben]

But yours is not stock.

Also not a racer. I also have Holley, Edelbrock, Comp, Hooker, etc. stickers...and I don't put them on either, because I'm not a tool bag pretending I have something that it's not.

 

[RustyCJ]

What about the "powered by Ford" ones?

 

[Truckin4life]

I can see that point ben...

This for the bronk, or red?

 

[73F100Shortbed]

This looks kind of cool http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FORD...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Not finned and I'm sure not the best quality valve cover, but I can't believe how expensive some are. Yikes! I'm glad I found my M/T valve covers at a pull-a-part for $5. LOL

 

[LEB Ben]

What about the "powered by Ford" ones?

That's kinda what I was trying to emulate. I see them for SBF's and BBF's...but haven't seen any for the 335 family.

I can see that point ben...

This for the bronk, or red?

Depends on how well it turns out.

This looks kind of cool http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FORD...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Not finned and I'm sure not the best quality valve cover, but I can't believe how expensive some are. Yikes! I'm glad I found my M/T valve covers at a pull-a-part for $5. LOL

Can't look at the link now...but you're a lucky bastard, I can't find a trashed pair pf MT valve covers around here for less than $100.

 

[Fellro]

If the material is thick enough, you could have them milled in rather than built up... a machine shop with a CNC should be able to do it.

I haven't seen the Powered By Ford on any 335, always the flat emissions sticker valve cover... Had some on 390's, haven't run any 460's, but have seen them on 302's.

 

[LEB Ben]

Not a bad idea...but if the blue oval is raised, would it still look alright with the 400 milled in?

 

[Fellro]

I really don't see why it wouldn't if done well.

 

[UNRULEE]

Hey Ben, how about these? Might be too bling for you though. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FORD...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
















BTW................Only the mightiest 400's have M/T vavle covers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously though, when I bought them I just bought them because they were cheap ($50) and aluminum. But they have really grown on me since I bought them.

 

[73F100Shortbed]

Those M/Ts look nice.

 

[Buzzman]

I know this is late, but sometimes you can find some decent buys on ebay. Sometimes they are not listed right. I picked up this stuff a while ago and have yet to install them.

 

[LEB Ben]

I know this is late, but sometimes you can find some decent buys on ebay. Sometimes they are not listed right. I picked up this stuff a while ago and have yet to install them.

Cool man...Those MT vc's look awesome. I'd love to get a set of those. Primarily though, I wasn't looking for vc's because I needed them but because I was looking to do something unique.

 

[Buzzman]

I know what you mean. But even getting some of the older stuff in decent shape seems to be unique. At least they would look better than some of those cheap looking chrome covers that sell for $20.