Most people have clearance issues with the alternator power cable lug. Some
have bought a different style lug from a Ford something ro other that is
more of a 90degree lug to allow for clearance when using the fabbed valve
covers. This requires taking the back of the alternator apart and swapping
out the lug.
brian cropp
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-dakota-truck@bent.twistedbits.net [mailto:owner-dakota-
> truck@bent.twistedbits.net] On Behalf Of mailinglists@moparhowto.com
> Sent: Monday, September 27, 2010 9:13 PM
> To: dakota-truck@dakota-truck.net
> Subject: RE: DML: Valve Covers
>
>
>
> I checked under the hood today while at lunch (I was checking things out
> after a nice accidental ABS test so soon after doing the front brakes)
> and it looks like the alternator bracket overlaps the valve cover toward
> the front drivers side of the engine. I don't know if these fabbed
> valve covers would fit there or not...
>
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Re: DML: Valve Covers
> From: jon@dakota-truck.net
> Date: Mon, September 27, 2010 4:48 pm
> To: dakota-truck-moderator@bent.twistedbits.net
>
>
> mailinglists@moparhowto.com wrote:
> [...]
> > I wonder if something like this would still fit, I kind of like the
> > "fabbed" look:
>
> >
> http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220588964945
> &crlp=1_263602_263622&ff4=263602_263622&viewitem=&guid=ab1dd2ea12a0a0e2032
> 0f6a0ffff9b95&rvr_id=146388835068&ua=WXF%3F&itemid=220588964945
>
>
> I don't see why they wouldn't. The auction specifically states
> that they don't though so it might be worthwhile to just drop them an
> e-mail to ask why. It might be they are simply unaware that the LA
> pattern is a subset of the Magnum pattern, or there may be something
> else.
>
> I like the way the fasteners on those provide the clamping force
> at the top of the valve cover, and not just on a thin flange at the
> base of the cover, like most valve covers do. That should cause a
> more even distribution of the clamping force across the entire gasket
> surface, resulting in a better seal.
>
> I don't really care for the bolts pictured in the auction though;
> they appear to be an oval or flat head fastener, but the bosses welded
> to the valve covers to accept them are not countersunk. This will
> result in a small contact area between the boss and the underside of
> the bolt head. Probably not a big deal as far as clamping force goes,
> but it might look "wrong" and I suspect there is a good chance that
> some metal filings could drop down into the oil from the sharp inside
> edge of the boss rubbing into the underside of the bolt heads. For
> the type of bosses pictured on those valve covers, I would recommend a
> non-countersink style machine screw such as a standard
> round/button/hex head. Or, possibly the bosses could be countersunk
> to match the bolts. They are just aluminum, so it wouldn't be
> difficult.
>
>
> -Jon-
>
> --
> Jon Steiger
> Steiger Performance
>
> jon@steigerperformance.com
> http://www.steigerperformance.com
>
>
>
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