One of the problems with installing a high performance valve train in the 153 head is clearance for roller rockers and stud girdles. Even the Mercruiser aluminum rocker cover doesn?t offer enough room!
I?m using Comp Cams 175:1 roller rocker arms and a small block Chevy stud girdle. An aluminum small block valve cover will accommodate the extra width and length of the rockers and the girdle, but it?s not tall enough.
My solution was to take a second Mercruiser cover that had been damaged on the top and an inexpensive cast aluminum small block Chevy
valve cover and cut the gasket rails off of them. I grafted the two rail sections together with the aid of a TiG welder and a guy who really knows how to use it. I took the two pieces and set them up on my head with the rockers and girdle installed and made sure that there was clearance and proper alignment and marked the positions and stuck them together with Gorilla Tape. Then I placed the other small block cover on the upturned rail of mocked up assembly and checked everything again! It can all be removed or installed without any other parts requiring movement.
I can access the girdle and rockers for adjustment as well as the pushrods and valve springs by simply removing the small block cover. It?s clean and neat and looks great!
If I can figure out how to post photos, I?ll try to put up a few shots of the process.
