The V8 Owners Forum -

Hi, first post after joining but used the site for many years as a great source of info.

Decided to refresh one of my engines with refurbished rocker covers.
Current covers are the rounded Range Rover type - the engine has no number but Has the longer reach spark plugs. (I’ve not checked the depth of plug hole to be sure that is the right plug but been running the engine for 5 years)


The newer covers are the square top type but I can’t get them to fit due to a casting round the front valves fouling the cover even when I take off the splash plate inside the cover that isn’t on the rounded covers.
None of the pictures I’ve turned up show anything other than identical “exposed” valve springs.
Stupidly didn’t take a picture before replacing the cover.
Anyone recognise my description of the head and know what it might have been fitted to originally?


Thanks in advance

Had a few minutes spare to take the rocker covers off again to look at the obstruction.
It is a pressing held down by the first 2 rocker shaft bolts - presumably an oil splash plate which is integrated into the later design covers in various different styles.
The question now is can the 2 rocker shaft bolts be safely removed and refitted without the splash panel whilst the head is in situ and under tension from the pushrods?

Thanks in advance for help.

Stagrover wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 24, 2021 9:59 am

The question now is can the 2 rocker shaft bolts be safely removed and refitted without the splash panel whilst the head is in situ and under tension from the pushrods?

Slacken off all 4 bolts evenly, then when there's no tension remove the 2 holding the baffle plate, then refit, retighten evenly and retorque.

Thanks Harvey
I wondered whether the couple of minutes taken to get the 2 bolts in and out wouldn’t stress the shaft unduly but slackening all the bolts progressively will be more gentle. Just have to hope that they don’t turn out to be untouched for 40 years and object to being disturbed.

Older RV8 used a thread sealer (ScotchClad) at the factory. Prevents the steel bolts corroding solid to the ally. And when undoing, can let go with a 'cracking' sound. It really does work. The small water pump bolts don't shear years later if it is used.

Fingers crossed then.