Tigers List Archive

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Mail From: "Tigerman" <(email redacted)>

Okay, I have to ask about valve covers and clearance.

I have a 5 bolt 289 in my tiger (and the original 260 on an engine stand
waiting to be rebuilt).
I believe it has standard 289 heads, rockers etc.
It is currently wearing the factory valve covers with the sunbeam sticker on
them.

My passenger side valve cover is leaking, and I need to at a minimum replace
the gasket, but would also like to put on the set of "Tiger powered by ford"
valve covers I have from SS.

So the question is. Is there enough room to change the valve covers on the
car, or will the firewall hang me up on clearance? The stock covers seem
very compact. The replacement "powered by ford" maybe slightly bigger.

Any hint to make the process any easier?

Thanks,
Steve

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Mail From: Robert Dobrowski <(email redacted)>

It is a tight fit but I have been able to get the aluminum valve covers
on and off.

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Mail From: "Mike Michels" <(email redacted)>

Steve, I have the cast covers on a 260. Although it's tight, you can get the
covers on and off. I'm not sure if there is a difference for a 289, but I
doubt it.

The generator/alternator and expansion tank will need to be removed. Access
to the rear valve cover bolts is a bear, as you probably have discovered. I
sawed a 1/4 inch drive 7/16 (I think that's the size) to about half its
length and it worked will through the firewall access hole on the driver's
side. The right side then comes of pretty easy. The #8 cylinder rockers are
the key, and you will need to rotate the crankshaft until the are open, and
then tilt the rocker cover over the rocker arms. It's a bit tricky, but it
worked. As a last resort, you would need to disconnect the transmission
mount and lower the rear of the engine, but I found that to be unnecessary.
Good luck.

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Mail From: "Thomas Witt" <(email redacted)>

Yes, I have used them as well (note: I have "powered by Ford". As I recall
the trick was to actually keep the cover parallel to the head, raising it up
and forward (diagonal, but parallel if that makes any sense). The last part
was to let the front drop just when the end is near as this helped get the
inner part of the cover over the rocker. If you hit a snag, you might want
to make sure that the rear rocker isn't up on a cam lobe.
Ahh..., the Tiger. It's like the vehicular Rubic's Cube.
Tom Witt