Well, getting the engine back together after all the problems I have ran into. Close to dropping back in. I went to test fit the Mercruiser valve cover I picked up a few months back and ran into an issue.

With ARP head studs, the nuts are larger diameter and sit higher than factory head bolts. This doesn't allow the Mercruiser valve cover to fit as it hits all the nuts/studs that don't fall inside the cover.

Anyone run into this and any ideas on how to fix?

Mr Hotrod 6 sells valve cover spacers http://myworld.ebay.com/mr.hotrod6/

Sorta like this one but for a 250 valve cover.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/194-230-250-292-...=p2047675.l2557

MBHD

Yeah thats a common problem. Tlowe makes a valve cover that eliminates that problem and doesn't require a spacer.

UNLESS YOUR RUNNING SUPER HIGH COMPRESSION YOU DONT NEED HEAD STUDS.

They are already bought and installed. The reason I went with these is that I had one head bolt thread in the block pull the previously "fixed" threaded insert out. I had to use an oversize threaded insert to fix this. I didn't want to put the twisting torque on that insert so by using head studs, the insert is only taking vertical torque.

YOU CAN ALSO GET SMALL O.D 12 POINT NUTS FROM ARP

You just need to notch that valve cover. You can quickly take metal off with a metal grinding wheel with a hand held 5" or 8" grinder. Then file the remainder. Leave some seal area.

Usually it is just the 4 corners. Be sure to run a tap in the block holes , so the stud will thread completely down.

Even my valve cover needs clearanced for those tall head studs.