Nice pentroof valve covers - where to buy?

[767Jockey]

I'm looking for a pair of Chrome Pentroof valve covers. Anyone have a nice set for sale, preferably with the emblems, or even without? I see Finishline was selling for $50, they no longer have any. Branda has them for about $150, quite a price disparity. Where are you guys getting them and what's the going price? Where are you getting the emblems for the covers? Are they the same emblems that are on the side of the car?

[cobrajam]

I have never seen any with the emblems already on them. There was a thread here somewhere about the 'proper' or preferred placement of the emblems, it may have been lost in the crash. You can use the side emblems, you can either break off the pins or drill the valve covers for them. Either way, they will need to be epoxied on, I suspect once the engine heats up, double stick tape would come loose. As far as the valve covers, I picked mine up from Branda a few years ago. Although the typical price is $150 pair, seems like he is always running a special for $99. They held up ok. Chrome kinda flaking off around the lip and the bolt holes now.

[undy]

For a Cleveland? If so, that narrows the playing field.

[Power Surge]

IMO, all the ones you can buy are the cheapos. I even bought mine off a guy who claimed to sell "better" quality ones for $170, and they were no different than the cheapos. I really don't think anyone makes anything different.

Also, consider this.... to have a REAL chrome plater do a quality chrome job on a set of pentroofs, is about $200... PER cover (I looked into that as well). So for $150, don't expect anything better than what they are.

[767Jockey]

Originally Posted by undy

For a Cleveland? If so, that narrows the playing field.

No, I'm FE now.

[computerworks]

Originally Posted by 767Jockey

Are they the same emblems that are on the side of the car?

Yes, with the pins cut off.

[DougD]

As far as I know, Branda is the only game in town for the steel versions. And, as others have said, the quality leaves something to be desired. Ask them to pick out a nice set for you. They are great to deal with. They also have both the no-hole and ones with holes for a breather, pcv, etc.

I have seen a cast aluminum version that was pretty nice. When polished, it kinda looks like chrome. I seem to remember them being quite a bit more $$$ though. Anyone know where to get these?

For what it's worth, the originals DID NOT have the 427 emblems so commonly seen nowadays.

[767Jockey]

Originally Posted by Power Surge

IMO, all the ones you can buy are the cheapos. I even bought mine off a guy who claimed to sell "better" quality ones for $170, and they were no different than the cheapos. I really don't think anyone makes anything different.

Also, consider this.... to have a REAL chrome plater do a quality chrome job on a set of pentroofs, is about $200... PER cover (I looked into that as well). So for $150, don't expect anything better than what they are.

Sal,
It's even worse than that. The best re-chrome price I get was from a place in PA, they told me to expect $250 - $300 per cover, depending on condition. The place here on Long Island was $375 - $400 per cover. Amazing.

[767Jockey]

Originally Posted by DougD

As far as I know, Branda is the only game in town for the steel versions. And, as others have said, the quality leaves something to be desired. Ask them to pick out a nice set for you. They are great to deal with. They also have both the no-hole and ones with holes for a breather, pcv, etc.

I have seen a cast aluminum version that was pretty nice. When polished, it kinda looks like chrome. I seem to remember them being quite a bit more $$$ though. Anyone know where to get these?

For what it's worth, the originals DID NOT have the 427 emblems so commonly seen nowadays.

So, Branda it will be unless someone chimes in with another alternative. What are you guys using for ventilation? I don't want a catch can setup, I was thinking a breather in one cover and a PVC valve in the other, or a PVC in the opening at the back of the intake and a breather in each cover. I've also seen setups with a breather in the hole in the rear of the intake. What is preferrable?

[Power Surge]

Originally Posted by DougD

For what it's worth, the originals DID NOT have the 427 emblems so commonly seen nowadays.

Who told ya that one?

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by 767Jockey

So, Branda it will be unless someone chimes in with another alternative. What are you guys using for ventilation? I don't want a catch can setup, I was thinking a breather in one cover and a PVC valve in the other, or a PVC in the opening at the back of the intake and a breather in each cover. I've also seen setups with a breather in the hole in the rear of the intake. What is preferrable?

I'm getting ready for my drivetrain installation and I think I have the same question. Is the "oil evaporator tank" what you're calling a "catch can"? Why do some use it and others do not? Is it because the originals came that way? If I'm using the Edelbrock RPM intake, I'm assuming these didn't come with the beather hole in the rear of intake or am I wrong? I'm confused.

[767Jockey]

Yes, that's it - I wasn't sure what the proper name for it is. I'll be using the Performer RPM manifold as well, I don't know if it comes with the breather hole cut into the rear of it or not. There was another thread about setting up PVC valves and breathers, lots of guys chiming in on what their setup is, but not much comment on pros and cons of the setups, if any. Ideally I'd like to have valve covers with no breathers and PVC valves on them at all, but I don't think there is any effective way to do that. Then another problem pops up, which is where do you add oil to the engine when needed?

[767Jockey]

Sal,
I see your driver side valve cover has no breather or PVC, and you have a catch can on the firewall. What's on your passenger side cover, and how is your breather system set up? Where do you add oil to your engine?

[1985 CCX]

There is a place that sells aluminum Pentroof covers unpolished. Same ones that Anthony B used on 3016. You could polish and use that instead of steel?

DSC Motorsport

Blue Thunders @ $200 all aluminum.

[RodKnock]

I'm not sure what type of FE you're using, but I know from experience with my BBC engine that stroker engines do require the ability to breathe. Otherwise, the intensity of the oil and vacuum will force oil out of the nearest orifice and leak. I think breather caps in the valve cover or possibly this oil evaporator tank is a requirement, but I would like to know that the valve cover breather caps and the oil evaporator tank serve the same purpose or not. Maybe both. Again, I'm confused. Where's 'xlr8or' when you need him?

[RodKnock]

At present, I'm using the Cobra Lemans valve covers, though I too prefer the Pentroof covers, and they have breather caps on both sides.

[Power Surge]

Originally Posted by 767Jockey

Sal,
I see your driver side valve cover has no breather or PVC, and you have a catch can on the firewall. What's on your passenger side cover, and how is your breather system set up? Where do you add oil to your engine?

My car is as original comp or S/C. Closed covers, rear of intake vented to puke tank.

Oil fill through the breather tube on the front of the intake.

If I weren't into originality, I'd definitely have a PCV.

[RodKnock]

OK, it's starting to become a little clearer.

Sal, what type of intake do you run? So the intake and valve covers determine which method one uses (i.e., closed valve covers and puke tank versus breather caps and PCV)? I actually have the Shelby intake, not the Edelbrock RPM. I'm now wondering if they have a breather tube in the front of the intake and a vent in the rear.

[Power Surge]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

OK, it's starting to become a little clearer.

Sal, what type of intake do you run? So the intake and valve covers determine which method one uses (i.e., closed valve covers and puke tank versus breather caps and PCV)? I actually have the Shelby intake, not the Edelbrock RPM. I'm now wondering if they have a breather tube in the front of the intake and a vent in the rear.

I am running the Blue Thunder intake which is a copy of the original Medium Riser. It has a fill tube in the front with a breather cap on it. When you buy it new, it also comes with a plug for those who don't want to use the fill tube.

If you use the fill tube, you can't have a PCV. If you use the plug, you can have a PCV. You can run a PCV two ways... either coming off the valve cover and going to the intake/carb (to be injested into the engine) or off the back of the intake and to the intake/carb.

[double ugly]

Original sidewinder intake and vintage Holley 730 with intake vent and chromed valve covers.
John