1963 - 289 Rocker Covers

[crendonman427sc]

Hi Guys,

Anyone have any idea what Type and Colour rocker covers were used by the 1963-64 FIA Competition Cars. I believe most used simple pressed metal covers.

However, I have read so far Black, Light Grey, Gold and Red colours have been mentioned!

I am thinking maybe Light Grey as the Block will be painted Black.

Is there a specific colour I can use or is it just a free for all??

Will be running Weber 48IDA's.

Thanks in advance.

David

[Mark IV]

Most were painted a silver color, Ford "Argent". The Argent spray paint is still available via Ford parts under part number PM 19K207 AA

[Karl Bebout]

David, in case you have not yet bought your covers, you might consider what I did. Speedway has stamped steel covers that come with two filler/vent tubes on one and none on the other. I bought two pair and used the ones with the vents, sold the non vented ones at a swap meet. The tubes are not as tall as original and do not have the gusseting reinforcement as I think the originals had, but I think they look good and do a good job. I did weld 3//8" nipples onto the rear tubes, to which I use a PCV valve Tee'd into both. I discovered that the pipe plugs on my Weber manifold were not for water temp sending units, but were a good 12" vacuum source. My 2¢ worth.

[tgandy]

Originally Posted by Karl Bebout

David, in case you have not yet bought your covers, you might consider what I did. Speedway has stamped steel covers that come with two filler/vent tubes on one and none on the other. I bought two pair and used the ones with the vents, sold the non vented ones at a swap meet. The tubes are not as tall as original and do not have the gusseting reinforcement as I think the originals had, but I think they look good and do a good job. I did weld 3//8" nipples onto the rear tubes, to which I use a PCV valve Tee'd into both. I discovered that the pipe plugs on my Weber manifold were not for water temp sending units, but were a good 12" vacuum source. My 2¢ worth.

Hey Karlos, I found the valve covers at Speedway. Great idea. From what I've seen in my research, not all covers had the gussets and not all were tall. Here's a picture of the engine of CSX2137, a 1963 Cobra Le Mans.

https://shelbyamericancollection.org...137-Engine.jpg


Thanks!

[1985 CCX]

Early car, keep in mind its changed some over the years....

[CompClassics]

Early 260 / 289 competition valve covers had two breather tubes per valve cover and were painted (black) or clear cadmium plated. Later FIA valve covers had the single tube breathers and were clear cadmium plated. If the history is accurate and the Cobra is as removed from the race track in 1965, CSX2345 has stock Hipo chrome stamped steel valve covers.

As brought to my attention and a fact that I had forgotten was that CSX2155 had stock stamped steel valve covers that were painted gold by the Ford factory.

[Tom Howland]

Karl,
You mention pipe plugs being a vacuum source on your Weber manafold. Does your manafold have a plentum underneath? If so do you find it easier to tune? Thank you.

[Karl Bebout]

Hi Tom, there is a plenum fed by small vacuum passages from each venture so each "barrel" still has to be individually tuned.

[Karl Bebout]

David, if you haven't bought your Webers yet, you may want to consider that 48's may well be too big for a SBF, unless its stroked out a whole lot. My 44IDFs are more than adequate for my mini-motor.

[CompClassics]

SAI utilized both 48 IDM and 48 IDA Weber systems on the engines they built. Both systems were very tunable for small block Ford applications and can be used on bib block applications as well. 48s have als been used successfully on four cylinder VW and Porsche engines as well. I know of several stock to mildly built Ford small block engines that run 48 IDA Weber systems. Yes, the 48 Webers might be challenging to properly tune but the performance gain once dialed in is awesome!

[Dan Case]

Originally Posted by CompClassics

SAI utilized both 48 IDM and 48 IDA Weber systems on the engines they built. Both systems were very tunable for small block Ford applications and can be used on bib block applications as well. 48s have als been used successfully on four cylinder VW and Porsche engines as well. I know of several stock to mildly built Ford small block engines that run 48 IDA Weber systems. Yes, the 48 Webers might be challenging to properly tune but the performance gain once dialed in is awesome!

Part of tunable means several sizes of factory and aftermarket "chokes" (slip in main venturi) can be swapped in and out. The flow "size" can be changed dramatically to suit driver tastes, altitudes, fuel mixes, engine size, and degree of other modifications from inlet air temperature to size and lengths of exhaust components. Of course there is an near limitless set of combinations of fuel jets, air bleeds, air horn heights (two different ones Cobra wise 1964-65), different inlet valve sizes, different auxiliary venturi sizes, and different auxiliary venturi designs (A style for Porsches was claimed to help signal strength as camshaft designs got more aggressive.) to go along with "tuning" for different engines and conditions.

[Gaz64]

Originally Posted by Dan Case

Part of tunable means several sizes of factory and aftermarket "chokes" (slip in main venturi) can be swapped in and out. The flow "size" can be changed dramatically to suit driver tastes, altitudes, engine size, and degree of other modifications from inlet air temperature to size and lengths of exhaust components. Of course there is an near limitless set of combinations of fuel jets and air bleeds to go along with "tuning" for different engines and conditions.

Yes, that's correct.

Factory choke size is 37mm.

48s are fine on mild 289s to near wild BBs.

You can 45 chokes for 48s, which is just like a sleeve.

[Karl Bebout]

My thought was just that if the carbs had not yet been bought, why go with the larger 48s that may need de-tuning choke size reduction.

[CompClassics]

Yep, it should have 48IDMs and an opposed intake manifold.

[tgandy]

Originally Posted by CompClassics

Yep, it should have 48IDMs and an opposed intake manifold.

The European FIA Roadsters started out with the Weber 48IDM, but by the time they were completed, specifications had been updated slightly to include the 48IDA. (World Registry of Cobras & GT40s 4th Edition, page 374)

If I were building a period correct 289FIA, I'd use the 48IDA.

[CompClassics]

Originally Posted by tgandy

The European FIA Roadsters started out with the Weber 48IDM, but by the time they were completed, specifications had been updated slightly to include the 48IDA. (World Registry of Cobras & GT40s 4th Edition, page 374)

If I were building a period correct 289FIA, I'd use the 48IDA.

Actually your information is not completely accurate 48IDM Webers (sand cast) were used well into 1964 by SAI on, 289 FIA Cobras, Daytona Coupes and King Cobras when they were eventually switched out to the 48IDA Webers (die cast). The first three of the five 289 FIA Cobras built had 48IDM Webers from new (2259, 2260 and 2301), CSX2323 being the first 289 FIA Cobra built with 48IDA Webers and CSX2345 being the next and final 289 FIA Cobra. Per your Registry reference, it wouldn’t be the first time the Registry had incorrect information.

[tgandy]

Originally Posted by CompClassics

Yep, it should have 48IDMs and an opposed intake manifold.

The European FIA Roadsters started out with the Weber 48IDM, but by the time they were completed, specifications had been updated slightly to include the 48IDA. (World Registry of Cobras & GT40s 4th Edition, page 374)

If I were building a period correct 289FIA, I'd use the 48IDA.

[Bill D]

I wonder if anyone makes one of those aluminum turkey pans for a Weber setup with opposing Webers

[1985 CCX]

John Bessey

[Karl Bebout]

Is that a tach drive off the generator? WTF? There were electronic Tachs back then, weren't there? Sun with a sending unit box?
Also, is that a 5th breather cap beside the generator, by the dip stick?