centrebolt valve covers

as im goint to be getting vortec heads for my 383, ill have to use centrebolt valve covers. trouble is, they're mostly crap! it seems all the decent valve covers are side bolt

i know you can buy very expensive billet ally adapters, but id rater spend the few hundred dollars on quality insides. has anybody tried fitting on sidebolt valve covers with a bit of fiddling? im quite good at this sort of thing, but i wanted to check whether it was actually possible (such as are they the same size?)

any experience/ideas/photos/nice centre-bolt valve covers would be great
i really like the plain ones (either chrome or black chrome) with just the big chevy logo in the centre in red, nothing else

lobster

Okay, pretend I'm your best friend and you trust me enough that even if I say something harshly to you that I mean you no harm or disrespect.

So you're willing to pump "big bucks" into the inside of your engine, but want to go cheapo on some parts that will make your engine look bad (dripping black greasy crusty crud), cause smoke under your hood (bonnet), and drive you crazy? What's wrong with this picture??

Personally I've not enjoyed (?) your bad experience with with center bolt covers. The real likely problem is the same as with side bolts. Cheap, piece of crap, cheap, flimsy, cheap, poor quality, and cheap covers................especially the $29.95 (US) chrome jobs. After that it's hiring a gorilla to tighten the fasteners.

The stock GM covers are of a good gauge steel, and have those ribs in the top to add rigidity. As for cost alternatives, you can often buy Corvette magnesium take offs for under $100 (US). If you're married to the idea of side bolts you can get adapters that will fit side bolt covers to the center bolt heads for around $120. Whatever you do, don't over torque the fasteners, and think about spending a few bucks extra (compared to the cheapo junk pieces) and don't make a problem for yourself.

i totally get what your saying Bob. its not that i was looking for cheap valve covers, its just that the styles of the centrebolt ones i dont like too much.... maybe im not looking hard enough. the valve covers i really like ive only seen in the side bolt version

im still going to be spending $100 on them, i just didnt want to spend an EXTRA $120.

basically ive seen these lovely shiny ones which are plain chrome with just the red chevy logo in the middle (no writing etc), but i havent found any like that in the centre bolt (plus you get two bludy great big holes in the middle of the shiny chrome top)

am i just really anal about what the specific look of my valve covers?

I agree that most valve covers suck....especially the cheapo chromies and the ones with advertising on them (unless the company pays me to advertise!).

Look at the GM valve cover offering....like Bob said, the Corvette magnesium covers are not too bad looking

http://www.gmgoodwrench.com/perfpart...382&section=ep

GM also offers a chrome version of their stock ribbed steel covers with a red bowtie emblem in the middle. Yes, it's got the 4 bolts coming through the top, but covered with a nice chrome acorn nut.