Horns Of The Delima, Need Help Locating Tall Valve Covers.

Hi group. I picked up a 71 CJ5 as a project right after the pandemic. Unfortunately, I had a major health set back during that time. Just like the Dauntless in the Jeep, I discovered my personal power plant needed some serious maintenance. All joking aside, it is time to get back to doing things I enjoy.
I had a Kenne Bell prepped 225 basically fall into my lap. The original owner passed, and the engine was never installed in his project. The heads are equipped with roller rocker assemblies, and though the valve covers are present, one of them is cracked and I would rather replace than attempt a bad repair job. The are KB signature tall covers and I am aware that they have morphed into un-obtainium. I've seen Offenhauser covers for sale, but I don't believe they possess the clearance the RR's require.
I am beginning to think it would be cheaper and easier to convert to a conventional flat tappit cam (current cam lift and duration unknown), although the heads have been ported and the headers I received with the engine have matched ports, all the advantages of that might be lost if it was done to benefit or match the existing cam profile. The engine only had dyno time on it and is virtually new/reman. I would have loved to have seen the build sheet to know just what I have, but that isn't going to happen.
I have no high hopes of this engine producing more than 180 HP as no matter what was done, it is still old school and the base engine never had much in the way of potential to begin with. But the price of admission was just too cheap to pass on. Thanks for any leads or ideas.

 

How about a good repair job? Take it to a reputable shop, they should be able to make it look like it never happened for cheaper than a replacement.

 

Welcome to site.
Introductions are here: Introductions | ECJ5 (earlycj5.com)
Have you looked at the V8Buick site? V8buick.com
They often have hard to find items in their classified section.

 

I'll just come and take that engine off your hands, to save you from this horrible dilemma!

 

Yep. I've welded up aluminum valve covers, including this one:

 

Have the cracked valve cover fixed and use the engine as is.
The roller cam shaft setup is far superior to any flat tappet setup.
I would NEVER consider reverting to a flat tapped cam, changing to a flat tappet would require a nearly complete tear down of the engine.

 

I believe its only roller rockers as per the o.p. but I could be wrong.

 

I'ld run it.
My 4.3 should be about 175hp 260ftlb
It's good for the highway.

 

Another vote on finding a competent TIG welder to repair the valve cover you have.

 

This sounds like a pretty cool project. The valve cover can be TIG welded and repaired. Aluminum is pretty forgiving and can be sanded, shaped,
polished, bead blasted or painted. There are some Kenne Bell valve covers listed on Ebay but are pricey. Not sure if they will work with your cylinder
heads as we don't know for sure what heads you have nor do we know what engine it is. I believe there was a change in the hold down bolt spacing for
the later year heads. The numbers for the heads are cast in the top of the head and can be seen with the valve cover removed. The engine casting
number is at the back of the block at the firewall.
Someone went to a lot of trouble/money to build this engine. At this point we don't know if it is an odd or even fire engine. I for one would be interested
in knowing more about it. With roller rockers and the porting mentioned, it may have different heads installed than original. I doubt is has a roller cam but you
would have to pull the intake to find out. A compression test would tell if it has high compression pistons. It appears it may have been built as a sand drag
engine and could be easily making 200+ horsepower if it was built for that application.
We welcome pictures here, though you may have to link to an offsite storage until your post count is up. Looking forward to more on this. John

 

Nice find on the modified engine, and like others have suggested, have your damaged valve cover repaired.
-Donny

 

Welcome and weld it.

 

I have a set of tall Kenne Bell valve covers for the 225 V6 that are new. I installed them and roller rockers on my ‘67 CJ5 that I never finished. They are a little dirty from sitting. I’ll clean them up and try to post a picture this weekend.

 

Or you can just machine out some spacers

The 1/2" versions I made so I could use the 1971 LT1 valve covers on the 381 that was formerly in the 3B.


That engine had Edelbrock aluminum heads with stock height valve cover mounting rails. The valve cover mounting rails AFR heads on the current engine were raised sufficiently enough that those weren't required.

 

Are these what you’re looking for? They’re a little dirty, but pretty much brand-new from the day I got them from Kenne Bell. The engine they were on never ran. I have the KB roller rockers too. The mice ruined the larger diameter KB push rods I had

 

Don't Y'all love it when New Member's help each other out ?
.....Purdy sure you both are on the same side of the Mississippi , too
Then again .......Nope , but close enough