32 Ford Revell..why holes in valve cover?

[106miles]

Hey guys - I have this kit (32 Ford Revell link below) and the "older V-8" does not appear to be a flathead, but they have 4 holes in each valve cover. Is this a ford engine that had plug wires that came through? Or is this just a silly looking rocker cover.

Thanks! http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/rmx/rmx854228.htm

[Deano]

Hey guys - I have this kit (32 Ford Revell link below) and the "older V-8" does not appear to be a flathead, but they have 4 holes in each valve cover. Is this a ford engine that had plug wires that came through? Or is this just a silly looking rocker cover.

Thanks! http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/rmx/rmx854228.htm

Um ... none of the above. That would be a Hemi; product of the Chrysler Motor Company.

[LDO]

I don't have that kit, and I'm looking at tiny pics on my cell phone, but that looks like a Chrysler hemi with holes for the spark plug wires. I would guess its a '50s 331/354/392 hemi. Maybe even a Red Ram hemi of smaller displacement.

[Ace-Garageguy]

I don't have that kit, and I'm looking at tiny pics on my cell phone, but that looks like a Chrysler hemi with holes for the spark plug wires. I would guess its a '50s 331/354/392 hemi.

Exactly.

Because of the nature of the design of the hemispherical combustion chambers in this engine, the spark plugs are in the top of the chambers. The only way to get wires to the plugs is through the valve covers.

[my80malibu]

None of the above are correct.send the kit to me and I will evaluate the problem and then give youan answer

[Ace-Garageguy]

None of the above are correct.send the kit to me and I will evaluate the problem and then give youan answer

Gee mister, if I send you all of mine, will you tell me why I almost never finish one ??

[Art Anderson]

I don't have that kit, and I'm looking at tiny pics on my cell phone, but that looks like a Chrysler hemi with holes for the spark plug wires. I would guess its a '50s 331/354/392 hemi. Maybe even a Red Ram hemi of smaller displacement.

All engines with a hemispherical combustion chamber have their intake and exhaust valves located to the sides of said chamber, with the sparkplug at the very center. This allows for the flow of intake gasses into one side of the combustion chamber, with exhaust gasses going out of the other side. It's the most efficient internal combustion engine layout--used since the introduction of the first serious DOHC engine from Peugeot in 1913.

If one looks at any Chrysler Hemi, 1951-58, one will notice a raised stamped steel cover down the middle of each valve cover. That is a wire loom, itself rather common on earlier OHV V8's, for the purpose of aligning plug wires, and often hiding them from view. Take that steel loom or cover off, and you can see four individual tubes in each valve cover, having a flange at the bottom, using a gasket to keep oil from getting to the plugs. The second generation Hemi's (1964-71) never had the loom, or cover, so those holes are highly visible, although Chrysler did install neoprene rubber covers for each plug hole, to keep dirt and moisture out.

Art

[106miles]

thanks guys! I'm a child of the 70's so I'm not too familiar with the Deuce. I kept searching the Internet for a Ford engine that looked like this. A hemi explains a lot. Very cool...now I definitely have to fit some plug wires to make this look real!