big tub...would like opinions

[jbwelda]

i am working on an old big tub, 1/8th scale, and Ive been doing some kitbashing with among other variations, the lindberg T called the Big Red T.

i dont know if this kit came like this originally (i got it started on ebay for cheap) but its got this red anodizing, or possibly candy red paint, all over it. reason i think it may have come like that is all the parts, including sprue trees, have this strange stuff on them.

anyway one of the parts im considering using is the valve covers...and herein lies the rub. i kind of like them but i am sure the motor would look more "correct" with the chrome chevy finned covers that came with it.

not only that, but i stole the exhaust headers off the same car (the red T i mean) and while i know a bit about chevy motors back then, i am not all that sure that the anodized valve covers as well as the exhaust system is really chevy...possibly ford!

so with that in mind, let me know which you prefer...sorry for the quality of the photos:

here is the red anodized valve cover:

and here is the more correct finned cover:

which one do you prefer?

oh one more question while im at it:

see those two holes on the front of the injection manifold? what are they for? are they some kind of vents or relief valves or something? surely they arent coolant input/output? i dont think ive ever seen those or noticed them before...

many thanks in advance!

[LDO]

The correct one is the one you like best!

[Smart-Resins]

The anodized valve covers look more like the pontiac covers on some of the bigger kits. Wich in the day, some racers had switched and used them on chebys for a "better look". Like wise I may be wrong, but believe those two holes in your intake are that, for your water coolent. Again used for racing purposes while omitting the water pump. I personally like the pontiac covers, but the red on them does not look right with the motor. Maybe if ya stripped them and chromed them!!Any other pics??

[Jairus]

Willam, Jody is correct. Those are your coolant outlets. They would run to the radiator from there. Usually, most rodders would mount a cross tube connecting them together with a single outlet in the middle. This pipe was generally chromed with a simple rubber connector and two hose clamps on each side. Then the regular ribbed coolant hose could be routed to the top tank of the radiator. Drag racers on the other hand would connect the two ports with a single rubber hose and eliminate the water pump altogether.

My only problem with the valve covers is there are no attachment bolts in the normal postitions around the flange like there is on a Chevy. The two top bolts would have been acceptable but is that possible/available on a real period Chevrolet engine? If you are concerned with accuracy then that is something to consider. Personally, I think it looks pretty cool with the Chevy covers.

[jbwelda]

thanks folks; i think youve helped me decide to use the standard chevy covers...at least for now.

jairus about those coolant ports...i will connect them together using some polished aluminum tubing and to the upper rad opening with rubber hose.

one question though: if those are coolant, then what is the thing sticking up in the front center of the manifold? i believe that is where the coolant port for other intake manifolds resides but since this manifold will be using the two ports on top, im not sure what to do with that (the manifold is already glued down so i cant easily just cut it off flush). should the cross tube also connect to that as well? or could the ports be connected to each other and then the center thing be used to return coolant to the radiator?

or, not knowing exactly how the coolant is ported around in the block and through the manifold, would it be in the realm of reality to make some block-offs for the twin coolant ports and instead use the center thing for mounting a single coolant return port?

just thinking out loud here and trying to minimize last minute alterations...

anyway many thanks for the replies, it clears up a question ive had about this manifold from the beginning...

anyone have a good link to a photo of this setup in real life?

[LDO]

...

My only problem with the valve covers is there are no attachment bolts in the normal postitions around the flange like there is on a Chevy. The two top bolts would have been acceptable but is that possible/available on a real period Chevrolet engine? If you are concerned with accuracy then that is something to consider. Personally, I think it looks pretty cool with the Chevy covers.

If the owner of the hypothetical car had access to machine tools, anything is possible. Look at some old magazines to see what people did back in the day. Check out the valve covers on Ed Iskanderian's "La Cucaracha". They were sand-cast stock replacements, but they had his name cast in the top, and he no doubt had to use a mill to get a flat mating surface, not to mention machining the bolt holes. Later SBC valve covers had top bolts. There's no reason it could not have been done back in the day. If you like the look of the anodized covers, put them on. It's just like calling the small-block engine on you model a 427. It could be a 262 or it could be a 427. It could be anything you say.

Lee

[Jairus]

William, That is your oil vent. There should be a twist off cap that fits onto that peg. On the real engine, that is where the oil would be added, as it drains right down into the galley over the timing chain.

The normal hot water exit would indeed be in the middle when a normal manifold is inplace. But you replaced it with the fuel injected manifold which does NOT include a cast section to connect the two water jackets together.

Here is a period engine with the oil galley vent plugged but the water exits are very apparent. The oil vent/fill on the pictured engine would be through a cap on the valve covers.

(Waterjacket: includes water flowing through the cylinder walls, up through ports in the block to the heads and then forward to the only water exit at the front of the heads. The left and right bank do not join anywhere between the water pump and the manifold.)

[jbwelda]

jairus thanks for stifling the urge to LOL at that question re: the oil filler tube, it took about a minute to realize how stupid it was. probably my lamest question of the month (but the month is new still!).

anyhow now that mystery is solved (and maybe i take a nap),

thanks for the pic too...that explains it all. a picture is worth a thousand words and all that. i didnt know the internal details of water porting so thats quite interesting as well.