Centerbolt Valve Cover Tech

[HarryH3]

So I grabbed a pair of centerbolt valve covers that I had on hand, to fancy up an engine that I'm gonna drop into my '90 Suburban. With just a quick comparison to the intended recipient, they appeared to be an exact match. I sanded them up and painted them a nice, gloss red...

Imagine my surprise when I went to install them and found out that the "centerbolts" are NOT in the center of the cover. They're offset ever so slightly to one side, meaning that they can ONLY be installed one way.

Of course, the PCV and oil fill holes are at the exact opposite ends from where I need them to be.

These appear to have come from a Caprice, so now I'll be painting a set of truck covers. Anyone need some spiffy covers for their car?

 

[55Willy]

did you try to flip em over?. mine are off of a 90 camaro same as the omes in my dads 91 burb.

 

[HarryH3]

Yep. They don't line up when flipped over. Can't even get the gasket to touch the head. Perhaps they should be called off-centerbolt valve covers.

 

[beater_k20]

you've got to be doing something wrong. there's no way that these things have been in production for nearly 20 years, and someone just now discovers a difference.

 

[sled_dog]

Caprice valve covers were exactly the same as my pickup ones....

craziness I tell you

 

[az-k5]

Switch them left to right. Then move the pcv line. The motor doesn't care what side you fill it from, and I don't think they are left and right either.

 

[HarryH3]

Switch them left to right. Then move the pcv line. The motor doesn't care what side you fill it from, and I don't think they are left and right either.

That will put the oil fill hole under the a/c lines. I never even suspected that these might be different from the ones on the truck engine...

 

[moneypit]

Sorry man.....