Hemi Valve Covers

[hot ford coupe]

Oooooohhh! Me, teacher, me. My hand is up and I'm waving it around. Pick me, pick me. I'd love to see those pics and how you did it. I wanted to do the same thing. I can even show you how I made the removable spark plugs like I did on the flathead. With the way the Hemi is built, I'll need to make a styrene socket wrench that will fit down into the holes. I've got some small socket wrenches that I bought in a model railroad store but I don't think they will fit down the holes. That would be a cool detail. The scale is big enough.

After a bit of thought, I think I know how I can make the wrenches, not out of styrene but out of metal. I'll try the brass because I think aluminum will be too soft. I'll get back to you on the details.

[ron_piet]

I also like to see how you made those covers and the mistakes offcourse ;)

Never to old to learn somthing.

Ron
The Netherlands

[Don Garrett]

I'll load some photos and post shortly...if there is enough interest I'll do the same with some other stuff I'm working on. I'm going to limit these projects to tools that most every one has in their craft box. Maybe someone wants to try scratch building but hasn't taken the plunge, this might be of help. I don't know the best way to do anything, so as I plod along if anyone has suggestions, let's hear 'em. I'm never going to be too old to learn!

[Don Garrett]

This is the resin valve cover that I used on the last Hemi I built. It took a fair amount of work to get them looking good.



I cut the pieces for the valve covers out of .040 sheet styrene
The fins on the covers are .060 half round styrene
I cut round styrene in quarters to reinforce the corners of the covers but square or scrap stock would be fine.

[Don Garrett]

Glue the pieces together...... sand and file, file and sand , correct mistake in measurement and sand and fill and sand , you get the idea.







At this point I would fill sand and prime and then finish sand ....but I'm going to jump ahead here a little and lay the ribs on the cover to see how they look.





Not a very good photo, guess I'm getting tired so that's it for now.
Next post will be the grooves for the valve cover bolts and the spark plug wells. Don't forget...you have to make two.

If you give up after one, don't throw it away...it makes a great mini Harley stand!

[hot ford coupe]

Looks good to me so far. I've been trying to put those pics on a disc but for some crazy reason, my laptop won't write the CD right. I'll be doing my Hemi covers a bit differently with a different shape and hopefully I'll be able to do it before my 95th birthday. Finding time nowadays for building is very hard.

[Don Garrett]

I cut 8 pieces of 1/4'' OD plastic tubing about 1/4" long. Drilled 4 1/4" holes in the covers and glued them in place. Sanded them flush with the top of the cover.









That's it for now.

[hot ford coupe]

Looking great, Don. I'm learning as I go along.

[docwatson1938]

Wow, these things look great, what are you going to use as plug boots??
I was contimplating doing a set of Ardun heads for the flattie but still cant think of a good way to do the plug boots.
I also want to do a C-T Automotive OHV conversion know as the Adams-Moler conversion. Kinda looks like a mid 70 Ford Lola F1 motor with the split rocker covers. This was 1952 and the car it was in ran 229.77 mph at Bonneville. If anyone has a copy of 'The American Hot Rod' by Dean Batchelor there are some good pics of the set up in there.
Doc.

[Don Garrett]

Small rubber o-rings with a short piece of wire sheathing in the center work pretty well for plug boots.

[docwatson1938]

Oh man such a simple solution too, damn I suck!! Couldnt even think of that!
You rock Don.
Doc.

[hot ford coupe]

Dang, that's a great idea. Thanks Don.

[Don Garrett]

Oh man such a simple solution too, damn I suck!! Couldnt even think of that!
You rock Don.
Doc.

When I first started building hot rods (1:1) and got frustrated my Dad gave me this advice......KISS. I said "what?" His explanation was................
"Keep It Simple Stupid!" He is a man of few words so I paid attention to what he said. Works for me.

[Deuces-wild]

This is the resin valve cover that I used on the last Hemi I built. It took a fair amount of work to get them looking good.



I cut the pieces for the valve covers out of .040 sheet styrene
The fins on the covers are .060 half round styrene
I cut round styrene in quarters to reinforce the corners of the covers but square or scrap stock would be fine.

The pic of the Desoto rocker cover looks just like the real thing Don,....Nice work!....:D Guido