[mhacars]

All I can share is my experience with Dove parts. Luckily I did not buy a whole kit but rather an interchangeable top 2 x 4 intake, the front cover, and the backing plate. First off the intake. The top plate had to be rewelded as the corners were broken at the attachement points. As well, the bottom plate under the intake did not have the holes properly drilled. I ended up having to fix both. I also had it pressure tested to make sure. Second, the backing plate. It simply did not fit and the bolt holes did not line up with the cover or the heads. Third, the front cover. The casting was of poor quality, the stub shaft hole was too small, and the machining on the back side where the water pump attaches was non-existent. I ended up having to get a new cover from Robert Pond and it was magnificent. The bottom line is that you should not have to fix new parts. That says something about Dove parts in itself. As it took me a few years to amass the parts to build the motor too much time had passed to deal with him. In the end I had to find alternates and I am happy that I had the expertise and guidance of Jim Barillaro throughout the ordeal. With all the cast of characters putting out these parts what I have learnt is that many of them come fromthe same swamp as Jim Dove. I would stay away from anything that he produces.