Thread: New valve covers, but first...

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I'm going to install new cast aluminum valve covers on a 1970's vintage 302. The issue is that the covers arrived with a guide attached for a plug wire loom that I do not intend to use. They are small L bracket stainless pieces on both covers that appear to be attached with a rounded rivet-head looking pin (it does not go completely through the valve cover). I want to remove these things without damaging the finish. Any ideas?

Thanks, Mike

Originally Posted by Miller205

I'm going to install new cast aluminum valve covers on a 1970's vintage 302. The issue is that the covers arrived with a guide attached for a plug wire loom that I do not intend to use. They are small L bracket stainless pieces on both covers that appear to be attached with a rounded rivet-head looking pin (it does not go completely through the valve cover). I want to remove these things without damaging the finish. Any ideas?

Thanks, Mike

Welcome to CHR, Mike. Without a picture I'm guessing that it's a blind rivet, peened into the hole to expand the shank and hold the bracket. You might get them out by prying under the edge of the bracket with a hard plastic wedge, like a piece of lexan or acrylic sanded to a wedge; but you might also center punch the head and use a larger drill to cut the head from the shank, releasing the bracket and leaving a stub rivet exposed. If you very carefully file down the remaining shank you might be able to get it flush, and then polish it out to blend in with the cover. Of course, you might also cut into the surrounding area and have to sand & polish a bigger spot, too.

How about just cutting the bracket down and leaving a tab in place?

The rivet looking pin is called a "drive screw" and it has spiral flutes on the sides so when it is pressed in, the flutes dig into the material. IF you could simply pull it out, you would use a rotation motion but not complete rotations like a screw. The only way to remove it is to carefully grind off the head to remove the bracket. To protect your surface, you can use some thick tape such as a couple of layers of duct tape. Use a small burr or wheel to slowly remove the head. After you have the head removed, the bracket should pry off. Now, you need to cut the screw flush with the surface OR perhaps you can grab the screw body and twist it out. Usually, they have right hand flutes so CCW rotation gets them out. Look up Drive Screws on the McMaster web page for more info.

this is an interesting thread - - - - it sure would be nice for us "Novices" to see what You and Y'all are talking about and what finally evolves and how it finishes out - - - - - meller

Thanks, guys. I think I'll try prying them out with a lil CCW motion if I can get a grip on them. If not, I'll break out the Dremel and try to lop the head off. I'll post some before & after pics, too.

If it doesn't go well, and the brackets are in a good place on the top surface, you could cover any damage with a Ford Emblem... 302 emblem... or have a logo, cartoon, or lettering done by a brush artist.

By the way, drive screws are used because the manufacturer doesnt have to tap a hole for a threaded fastener. They also dont vibrate out like a threaded fastener. You see a lot of them used in plastic parts.

Well, I got the brackets off using the dremel and a grinding wheel. The new valve covers are installed and look pretty good. I have tried a couple of times to attach pictures here without any luck. Thanks for the help!

BTW, Robot, I was in Tucson earlier this week and went out to Hotrods in Old Vail. Great place and a good lunch, bought a t-shirt. I think one of those would go over well here on the east coast.

Originally Posted by Miller205

Well, I got the brackets off using the dremel and a grinding wheel. The new valve covers are installed and look pretty good. I have tried a couple of times to attach pictures here without any luck. Thanks for the help!

Until your post count gets up a bit higher (I think like 10 or 12) your picture submissions have to be approved by the moderator..... Helps keep the Riff Raff, scams, and scumbags from pounding us with their trash!

If you upload them to photobucket, resize them, and copy and paste the image link, you can post them directly to your post.

And since I'm in love with your avatar, flip the pics to me and I'll re-size and upload for you!

Welcome aboard!

Miller205, I havent ever been to Hot Rods Old Vail because they had a "no guns" policy....dont know if that is still true however. I called them when they opened and they said that was their policy. The weather here has changed and this starts our car show season.....opposite of up north.

Two good size shows Oct 25th in Phoenix,10th Annual KOOL-FM show at Westgate near the Cards Stadium and the Ford Deuce Show at Sanderson Ford.

From Mike Miller... his beautiful car and the covers he was working on.