Hey folks

I'm looking at some Transdapt valve covers, and notice that the short model doesn't have a baffle, and the tall one's do.
I'm not sure the tall ones would fit, as there's not a lot of room between the stock valve cover and the power brakes booster.
So... how important do you think the baffle is (and is it the same thing as the drip rail I've seen mentioned)?
My present engine is a `74 350 ci.

Thanks in advance

I think and I could be wrong they were to keep oil on the rockers.
I do have a set that I would like to sell if your looking for some.

Thanks Doug

Do yours have the baffles, and do you know if the original covers have baffles?

There's a store in town that's selling chrome Transdapt covers w/out baffles for $42.00 Canadian (about 35 US) -- I'm not sure I could get a pair shipped for that price.

I have a H.O. in my 68' bird and yes the baffles did fit under the factory chrome valve covers.
When I rebuilt my motor this past summer I went with poly locks and a reputible ? engine builder told me that with the poly locks I no longer need the baffles.
So I'm selling my baffles $20.00 plus shipping if your interested.

The baffles came on my stock 68 HO block, so they do indeed serve a purpose. (You are talking about the metal plates bolted into the heads above the rockers, under the valve covers?)

Some After-market Tall valve covers come with inner ribs that allow for the oil to supposedly drip into the proper place (rockers). You are correct, it is a very tight fit, and my Moroso Tall covers have a permanent dent in the driver side to get that one under the PB assembly. Is there another option? I dunno.

Thanks Nash

The "baffles" I'm referring to would be attached to the covers themselves, not to the heads. I'm not sure that "baffle" is the correct term (ribs or maybe "drip rails" might be more accurate), but it's the word companies like Transdapt are using.
The "short" aftermarket valve covers don't seem to have the ribs/drip rails/whatever built in, but the tall ones do. However, I think the short ones would fit around the PB without "modification".

I'm wondering if the stock valve covers themselves had the ribs/rails/etc? If they didn't, then I'd buy the short valve covers with confidence that I'm not potentially causing a problem down the line.

I should just go pull the stock covers off of mine to see, but I'm not sure that my `74 motor with 2 bbl is the best reference.

I believe they are indeed called "valve cover drip rails". They help accumulate the oil that splashes on the top of your valve covers and then channel the oil to drip in specific places; notably on your rocker arms, instead of letting the oil run down the sides of the valve covers where it cannot help cool the rockers.

My '69 w/ a 350 2bbl did not have the drip rails, and my 400 w/ roller tip rockers and stock height chrome valve covers that I am rebulding now will also not use them.

We need an old-timer (Old fart?) to figure this one out. I know that '68 HO's came with the internal plates as mine has, and I assume they are for the "drip oil" angle we have talked about. Maybe not. The pattern makes sense but I don't know, maybe they are there to keep parts from taking your eye out when the engine blows!! But I have seen the newer valve covers advertise they "drip" correctly for an FGF.

ok, I got off my butt , went outside into the -30"C (-13 F) garage, and pulled off a cover.

See link below for picture - YES it does have the drip rails inside. The cover is likely off of the 1974 head that it sits on though.

http://tinyurl.com/6scha

Incidently, I tried to post the picture directly here, but couldn't. "Paste" doesn't seem to be an option when an image is on the clipboard.

Great pic, Slayer! Right on target to clear this up.

But........what about the metal frames we mentioned, above the rockers but bolted to the heads? Not part of the valve covers. Has your block got them?

nashville68bird, I have the tall covers on my 455 and to avoid the "dent" I remove the three small bolts that hold the wiper motor to the firewall and "hang" the motor(wiper} with a wire from the hood. No need to disconnect anything else as this gives me enough room to get the cover out. A pain in the butt, but no dents. benny

Thanks Benny! Last time I removed them I had to take the alternator out just to have room to slide the passenget side cover out.