SBC 383 Roller Valve covers
 

Had Lab engine (LEE) Build me a 383 Full roller motor.
Best of everything. For a friend's heavy boat that needed more power.
Problem is trying to get valve covers that fit.
Has Comp Cams stainless roller rockers.
Heads are Dart and unfortunately are Center bolt !
Bought a set of stock height aluminum Flame CNC milled beautiful, with alot of internal grinding, dychem layout dye etc, still had problems. Was told to sandwich 2 cork gaskets and glue together for height. Still not enough.
Bought the tall aluminum covers and of course they don't clear the manifolds.
I may need an exhaust header flange or something, and move the manifolds outward maybe creating another problem ?
I may cut the tall valve covers and weld back at an angle.
I can't find the tall SBC covers with an angle for marine use. Big Block variety is endless.
I should have just put a Stock 330 Hp Big block in the boat or just bought a plug in crate 6.2 . I wanted to have a SBC in the boat, with big block power, small block fuel economy power, durability, more room in the bilge, Any suggestions would be very helpful. Thanks, BBB

The short ones will work with some grinding and a thicker gasket . It sounds like you have put tougher the same package as we did . They run very strong .

i had the same problem,i got a set of tall trick flow covers from summit and they were fine,good luck.

Time to start grinding..... Thanks, BBB

I believe the GM high performance covers, Part # 12497978 or 12497979 are 1/4" taller and will clear the standard Comp stainless roller rockers, especially if you order Comp's shorty polylocks. These parts are relativily inexpensive, good quality and will avoid grinding and "ruby goldberging" and should solve your issue nicely!

Best Regards,
Ray @ Raylar

Hey Billy how can you be the "Parts Hoarder" when Aldo has all the parts?:evilb:

I wouldn't be so fast to say that he has as much Mercruiser parts...
Maybe only Mercruiser has more...
I did give a friend his number for a TRS drive, I don't have any Trs or other outdated stuff.
The junk goes to Gershow not inventory !
I did get the covers to fit . Just needed to make sure I wasn't wasting my time grinding.
I managed to use a cut off disc and make incisions and snap inner reinforcing webs short with a 1930's Extra wide Crescent wrench. This reduced alot of the die grinding.
I also used a 4 1/2" grinder and took down the exhaust side of the inside of each cover.
What a mess ! I think next time if I'm ever insane enough to do this again, I will buy tall fabricated covers and plasma cut them to a 45 on the manifold side and re-weld.
The guy I'm doing this for is a really good friend of mine. I am also spending extra days smoothing out and finishing off the bilge including alot of fiberglass repair work. Heck, He's letting me keep one of my boats at his house so I can't possibly do too much for him.
Thanks to everyone for the helpful input. I'd be on here more often, but I am working almost constantly.
BBB