AFR, 1.6, Stud Girdle, Valve Covers?

**383z** · 03-08-2015, 02:31 PM

Ok, I asked a very similar question about valve covers,, but now I have a different situation. I have AFR 210 heads and plan on buying Comp cams Ultra pro magnum 7/16 1.6 rockers. The machanic that is putting my heads on also wants to install stud girdles, so I will need tall valve covers. I have a few questions.

1st. Are Canton valve covers the only companny that make tall vavle covers for LT1s with a notch for the alternator? I've read its basically a coin toss that they will fit correctly on the heads and I would still have to modify them for AFR heads.
2nd What do I need to do to modify the vavle covers to fit my heads?
3rd Do I need to add stud girdles? I doubt I'll rev pass 6500rpm.
The vavle covers have to be center bolt for the 24x conversion and APR studs will be used. Fyi

**Revolutions** · 03-08-2015, 02:49 PM

What kind of spring pressures are you running?
Hydraulic or Solid roller cam? Details? (duration@.050 and lift)
Just curious what about the 24x conversion requires center bolt valve covers.

**myltwon** · 03-08-2015, 05:11 PM

IIRC you just have to grind some material off the back of the alternator to make most centerbolt valve covers fit on an LT1

**383z** · 03-08-2015, 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by Revolutions

What kind of spring pressures are you running?
Hydraulic or Solid roller cam? Details? (duration@.050 and lift)
Just curious what about the 24x conversion requires center bolt valve covers.

The springs that come with the heads are:
1.550" OD Roller Dual Valve Spring w/ dampener, 220 lbs on seat, .710" maximum
But I bought the heads used and I just emailed the last owner to see if he switched them out.

Hydraulic cc306(for some reason I can't copy and paste right now.)

The coil brackets for the 24x are designed for center bolt valve covers only.

**383z** · 03-08-2015, 06:57 PM

Originally Posted by myltwon

IIRC you just have to grind some material off the back of the alternator to make most centerbolt valve covers fit on an LT1

Thanks, I've read the same thing, but it didn't work for a few people.

**Revolutions** · 03-08-2015, 07:32 PM

IMO Girdles would be overkill with that cam/spring. That is a pretty heavy spring for a hydraulic roller especially when
you don't need that much when spinning 6500. Typical with that valve train would be in the 150-175# range.
Are you sure you can run those rockers the original CC Pro Magnum roller rockers have a max spring diameter
of 1.5" and yours are 1.55". Maybe the Ultra has more clearance. ???

**Catmaigne** · 03-08-2015, 07:37 PM

The stock springs are AFR 8000s. I don't think they have any paint or markings on them. 2 springs, no damper, looks like this:
http://ltxtech.com/forums/attachment...627484&thumb=1
http://ltxtech.com/forums/attachment...053844&thumb=1
http://ltxtech.com/forums/attachment...053870&thumb=1

I have the same heads and am swapping the AFR springs out for Isky 9005 Plus duals. 170lbs @ 1.9" installed. Open should be around 430lbs on the exhaust with my cam.
I don't think I'll be needing girdles with the 7/16" ARP studs that came on my 210s.

The AFR valves are light relative to their size and a cc306 is not radical. You don't need nearly as much spring pressure as me or a stud girdle with that cam.

Stock valve covers will need to be trimmed at the bottoms of the 4 bolt holes (where the VC meets the head). You won't be able to torque them down because the inner sleeves that the VC bolts run through are too long.

You can try grinding the back of the alternator to clear SBC covers or relocate it if you have no AC.

I was thinking about getting generic SBC valve covers with the 4 outer bolts and then drilling into the tops to permanently mount the coil brackets with nuts/bolts/silicone. If you want pull a centerbolt valve cover with EFI connection coil brackets then you have to remove all coils on the head which seems like a PITA. I would also be afraid of the little silver spacers falling into the abyss of my engine bay if I were to pull the VC bolts out.

**383z** · 03-08-2015, 09:47 PM

Originally Posted by Revolutions

IMO Girdles would be overkill with that cam/spring. That is a pretty heavy spring for a hydraulic roller especially when
you don't need that much when spinning 6500. Typical with that valve train would be in the 150-175# range.
Are you sure you can run those rockers the original CC Pro Magnum roller rockers have a max spring diameter
of 1.5" and yours are 1.55". Maybe the Ultra has more clearance. ???

Good, I was thinking I didn't need girdles either. Thanks for reassuring me.
Also, I'm NOT sure I can run the Ultra CC. I'm learning as I'm going with these heads. I'll do some more research.

**Revolutions** · 03-08-2015, 10:26 PM

Are the heads new? If they are I would contact AFR and see about swapping them for a set of the springs that come on the 195s.
The springs you have are more suited to a fairly aggressive solid roller.

**383z** · 03-09-2015, 12:44 AM

Catmaigne- You gave me some good info. I've also read up on how to make stock valve covers fit. I don't mind grinding the alternator either, but I read it didn't work for one person. Hopefully that was a isolated incident.

I can't relocate my alternator ,because I need my A/C. I live in Texas! Lol