FORD SMALLBLOCK VALVE COVER ADAPTERS

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

First, thank you for purchasing these adapters. Bolting on a pair of FE pentroof valve covers will greatly enhance the appearance of the engine compartment of your small block equipped Cobra replica. These plates are intended to adapt Ford FE valve covers to standard Ford 289/302/351W cylinder heads including GT40, GT40P, GT40X, Edelbrock and Holley. These adapters have been produced from quality Alcoa 6061 aluminum plate, CNC machined to close tolerances and have been designed to work primarily with cast aluminum FE valve covers from Ford Motorsports. Roller rockers on standard cylinder heads should clear nicely. These adapters may also be used with the chromed stamped steel pentroof valve covers available from T. Branda and others but in certain cases the bolt holes in those covers may need to be slightly elongated with a round file to fit the mounting studs. This is the result of a manufacturing problem with the repro covers and not with the adapters. If you plan to use stamped steel valve covers with this adapter kit please review Special Instructions For Steel Valve Covers. Heads with non-standard valve geometry and/or stud girdles have not been tested. My express warranty certifies that these adapters are free from defects in materials and/or workmanship and will perform as stated for the applications specified. No other warranty, express or implied, exists. If the purchaser chooses to use these adapters for any application other than those specifically stated it is done at the purchaser's own risk and voids the warranty. Any modification to the adapter plates voids the warranty.

If the purchaser finds that these adapter plates will not fit the intended application, please contact me for permission to return. I will issue a full refund of the purchase price upon receipt of the adapters and all included hardware in "uninstalled and resellable" condition. I am sorry but shipping costs are not refundable for any reason other than defect in material or workmanship.

KIT INCLUDES:


1 pair 3/8" thick aluminum CNC machined adapter plates
1 pair smallblock Ford valve cover gaskets, steel reinforced rubber
Cork gaskets are NOT recommended. They harden, crush or distort, and stick over time.
12 1/4x20-0.87" flat head Phillips screws, 10 standard, 2 with small diameter heads to mount adapter plates to the cylinder head.
10 1/4x20-1.00" flat head Phillips screws, 8 standard, 2 with small diameter heads to use as FE valve cover studs
10 1/4" 18-8 stainless steel washers
10 1/4" 18-8 stainless steel lock washers
10 1/4x20 18-8 stainless hex nuts

MATERIALS AND TOOLS NEEDED:


#3 Phillips head screwdriver, 7/16" socket or nut driver
1 tube of Permatex Ultra Black (Part #598B) hi-temp silicone RTV. Other RTVs do not posess the oil resistance required for this installation.
1 small tube Anti-Seize Compound (Optional)
1 pair Ford FE valve cover gaskets, FelPro #VS-13049R (preferred) or Victor #VS38308R
Cork gaskets are NOT recommended. They harden, crush or distort, and stick over time.
10 Valve Cover Bolts, 1/4x20, Ford Motorsports part # M 6680A recommended

IMPORTANT HINTS:

ALTHOUGH CARE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO ELIMINATE METAL CHIPS AND SHARP EDGES FROM THESE PLATES THEY SHOULD BE CLEANED PRIOR TO INSTALLATION. A BRILLO PAD AND WARM WATER WILL REMOVE ANY OXIDATION AND FINE SURFACE SCRATCHES FROM THE METAL AND POLISH THE SURFACES TO PROVIDE A GOOD GASKET SEAL. All exposed screw heads should sit flush with or slightly below the surface of the adapter when tightened. Use the small head screws in the center top holes on the intake manifold side of the adapter. Any screw head that contacts a gasket must be sealed with silicone during assembly. (OPTIONAL A light coat of anti-seize compound applied to the gasket surfaces that face the adapter plate will make future removal much easier.) Measure the depth of the 1/4x20 mounting holes in the cylinder head (usually 5/8”) to determine the proper length for the adapter mounting bolts to be used in Step 3. Turn one of the 0.87" screws into a valve cover mounting hole finger tight and measure the distance from the lip of the cylinder head to the top of the screw. If you measure more than 7/16" consider grinding off the end of the screws until the proper length is reached. The screw must not bottom out before drawing the adapter and gasket snugly together.

1.

Remove the original small block valve covers and clean the cylinder head lip of all residual gasket material. Carefully remove any oil or grease from the lip of the cylinder head using a cloth and appropriate solvent.

2.

Assemble the FE valve cover studs on the adapter. You will notice that each adapter has 11 holes in it, all of them countersunk. FIVE holes have been tapped 1/4x20. These holes will accept the 1/4x20-1.00" FE valve cover mounting screws/studs. Select five correct length screws for this step (one should have a small head). Start each screw in a threaded hole, then place a generous bead of silicone gasket caulk in each countersink and thread in the screw until it bottoms out snugly. Be sure to use the small head screw in the correct location. The gasket material should be forced out all around the screw. Do not overtighten these screws since the material is aluminum. Repeat this procedure for each adapter plate.





3.

Apply a generous dab of silicone gasket material over and around each stud screw head that will contact the small block valve cover gasket. Coat one side of the small block gasket with a thin coat of anti-seize compound. Carefully set the small block gasket coated side up on the lip of the cylinder head and lower the adapter plate onto the gasket. Insert 1/4x20-0.87" screws into each of the six mounting holes loosely. Be sure to use a small head screw in the top center location. Place a generous bead of silicone gasket material into each of the six adapter mounting countersinks. Then snug the screws down in an alternating manner to 5-7 LB/ft of torque to ensure even seating of the adapter and prevent warpage.





4.

When you have the adapters properly mounted and torqued, place a dab of silicone gasket material on each of the adapter mounting screw heads that will contact the FE valve cover gasket. Prepare the FE gasket by coating one side with a thin coat of anti-seize compound. The anti-seize compound should help prevent the gasket from sticking to the adapter plate making future removal easier. Place the FE valve cover gasket over the five 1/4x20 studs coated side down and then carefully set the FE valve cover in place.





5.

Place a ¼" stainless steel washer over each stud and attach the valve cover lock washers and nuts loosely. Shift the position of the valve cover to best conceal the adapter underneath. Then, using a gradual and alternating tightening sequence, snug down all five nuts evenly to 5-7 LB/ft torque. Be careful not to overtighten the nuts which might cause distortion of the gasket and/or warping of the adapter plate which could result in leaking.

6.

Stand back and admire the new look in your engine bay. It is recommended that the silicone gasket caulk be allowed to fully cure before running the engine to full operating temperature. As with any gasket, periodic tightening of the mounting screws and valve cover bolts may be necessary as the gaskets settle in. If you used quality gaskets and proper factory torque specs to begin with this should not be necessary. If tightening of the adapter to cylinder head mounting screws are required, reapply silicone gasket caulk to the exposed screw heads after tightening. Gasket and silicone residue can be easily removed from your adapter plates with either a steel wool scouring pad and water or 3-0 steel wool and solvent when removed from the vehicle.

ADAPTER TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Photos of your finished project and comments about this product are always welcomed. E-mail may be sent to SuperHart@aol.com.
Rupert Hartmann
943 Cinnaminson Avenue
Palmyra, NJ 08065
(856) 829-4007

Please send any questions or comments to me by clicking here