Engine Do ford racing valve covers require a intake spacer?

AnthonyA1234

5 Year Member

Aug 17, 2020

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May 12, 2022

#1

• May 12, 2022

• #1

Found out one of my valve covers is cracked so I’m looking to buy new ones. I like the look of these ford racing ones. Do they require a 3/8 manifold spacer? The car currently had a cobra intake manifold I don’t know if that makes a difference. Here’s the link to the ones I want.

https://lmr.com/item/M6000J302R/86-93-Mustang-50L-Ford-Racing-Black-Ford-Racing-Valve-Covers

 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Mod Dude

Feb 18, 2001

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May 12, 2022

#2

• May 12, 2022

• #2

I run them with a 3/8” spacer with my cobra intake and it clears the stock hood.

I could run them with no spacer if I did two things. Slot the throttle linkage bracket for more clearance, and remove the drivers side plenum pcv plumbing.

This is with 3/8” spacer

 

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AnthonyA1234

5 Year Member

Aug 17, 2020

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May 12, 2022

#3

• May 12, 2022

• #3

Nice thanks for the quick response. So just the spacer is all I need and it will clear? Also is this a good spacer? And could you send me some pics of the engine bay please so I can see how they look?

https://lmr.com/item/TFS-51520017/1986-1995-Mustang-3-8-Intake-Spacer-For-Cobra-Intake

 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Mod Dude

Feb 18, 2001

43,236

17,922

224

Massachusetts

May 12, 2022

#4

• May 12, 2022

• #4

It comes with bolts, which is a plus. I dislike how expensive they have become.


They are a little bit hidden under there.

 

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AnthonyA1234

5 Year Member

Aug 17, 2020

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May 12, 2022

#5

• May 12, 2022

• #5

Nice looks great! Just ordered the valve covers, new gaskets and the spacers. Thanks! Do you think that crack could have been causing my car to idle weird at times?

 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Mod Dude

Feb 18, 2001

43,236

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May 12, 2022

#6

• May 12, 2022

• #6

If the crack was big enough to cause a vacuum leak, yes

 

AnthonyA1234

5 Year Member

Aug 17, 2020

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May 12, 2022

#7

• May 12, 2022

• #7

Mustang5L5 said:

If the crack was big enough to cause a vacuum leak, yes

Click to expand...

Yea that’s how I found it I did a smoke test and a lot was coming out. Here’s some pics. I’m relieved this is what it is because I’ve been seeing white smoke coming out of that area when I have the engine on and I always thought it was the head gasket but I guess it was just oil leaking on the header.

 

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AnthonyA1234

5 Year Member

Aug 17, 2020

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May 16, 2022

#8

• May 16, 2022

• #8

Mustang5L5 said:

If the crack was big enough to cause a vacuum leak, yes

Click to expand...

Hey man just got the valve covers on. There’s a couple of the bolts I’m unable to tighten. It’s all lined up right but it seems as though the little cutout it has to let a socket through isn’t enough and my socket gets stopped by the valve cover before I can reach the nut. Did you go through this and how did you get through it?

 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Mod Dude

Feb 18, 2001

43,236

17,922

224

Massachusetts

May 16, 2022

#9

• May 16, 2022

• #9

I changed my hardware to 12-point ARP stainless, so the socket is smaller for those. I never tried with the stock hardware

 

Last edited: May 20, 2022

R

Rcdgl

5 Year Member

Feb 19, 2018

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May 19, 2022

#10

• May 19, 2022

• #10

Allen head screws and a wobble type allen head wrench may work.

 

evintho

20+ Year Stangneter

Nov 12, 2003

683

245

73

Santa Rosa, CA.

May 19, 2022

#11

• May 19, 2022

• #11

1" long SS buttonhead bolts and an allen wrench.

 

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