The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Swapping Valve Covers

I'd like to swap a 235 valve cover for a 216 just to make my 52 with a 62 235 more retro as it had probably looked originally. But I'm leary of removing those two bolts from the rockers that are most likely torqued and replace them with a couple of studs that are only topped off with a couple of acorn nuts pressing against rubber grommets. And these two light tightened nuts also hold the cover to the gasket; to the head.
Does this setup work?
Do I need to place a nut/lock washer on the shaft of the stud to act like the bolt and torque that to some ft. pounds?
Does the gasket require any stuff to seal?

I'd suggest looking into the adapter kit that Offy and others use to put their aluminum covers onto the 235. The use the 216 mounting with the center bolts, but adapt them to fit to the 235 mounting system. I think that the adapter is available separatly from the cover.

There's a nut on the studs that holds down the rocker shaft and the acorn nut only holds the valvecover. Find an old 216 head and take the studs from it. Torque the studs with nuts the same as the other 2 bolts. Use a 216 gasket with the old valve cover.

Thanks, I thought the nuts were required.
Does gasket goop really matter?
Or is a bit of oil sufficient for a good seal? Like on an oil filter.

Ya know, we ran midgets, sprint cars and dragsters when I was younger and were always pulling the covers. We glued the gasket to the cover (easy to scrape on the bench) and just left the head side dry. Could remove them many times before they needed changing.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Go as Denny said; If you seal the gasket to the cover only you can remove it as required for valve adjustment,head bolt torquing,push rod inspection, etc. Oil will swell it to seal against the head.
Curt B.