Tall valve cover and heater core clearance

[Curley]

Hi I have just installed a 383 in my 68 camaro with the stock small block heater core. I have to run tall valve covers to clear my roller rockers and now the issue. The outlet on the heater core touches the valve cover. Has anyone else run into this problem? Are my valve covers especially tall or is my heater core screwed up? Here are the pictures...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/01/Camaro074-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/01/Camaro073-1.jpg

Im thinking about bending the hell out of it, but if anyone else has an idea I'm all ears. Thanks

[megaladon6]

do you NEED heat?

[Curley]

do you NEED heat?

Well, I do live in california, and that thought crossed my mind.....

[MrQuick]

you could remove the core and heat the tubing up a little, then bend them to clear the vc's...or run a big block heater core.

[68sixspeed]

I'm wondering which motor stands you are using? Camaros had a few different small block ones and you may have the taller ones? both motors I've had in my 68 had tall covers, the prev. motors were kind of like yours and it seemed to sit lower. It's close, don't get me wrong, I have to hold the heater hose aside when taking the covers on/off, but it does clear. -dan

[chicane67]

...or run a big block heater core.

Yup yup. This would be the best solution.

[Curley]

you could remove the core and heat the tubing up a little, then bend them to clear the vc's...or run a big block heater core.

I think I'm going to bend the tubes on the core. If I break it or it leaks then i'll change it out for a big block one.


I'm wondering which motor stands you are using?

I'm pretty sure that I have the 350 stands. I measured them and double checked it before I dropped in the engine.

[68sixspeed]

check on 327 motor mounts; (maybe search camaros.net or some catalogs); if my brain is working, 350/302 mounts were higher for a 8" balancer, the 327/307 mounts were lower for a 6.5" balancer. Not sure if this was just in 69 or if 68 was effected too. Mine might be 327 mounts since it was a donor subframe I modified years ago.