[JeFFR2603]

Update:

Got home today and removed the C&L mass air and installed the Pro-M.

Voila`!! The car runs great, and idles smooth, and has vacuum, and drives awesome!!!!

So then I removed that stupid breather from the cheap ass sheet aluminum valve covers and duct taped a hose from the valve cover opening to the throttle body to see what happened to my vacuum. Well it increased from 14 to 16. So now I'll have to find a breather cap that fits those covers with a spout for a hose to the throttle body.

Couple of words of wisdom from this ordeal. DO NOT buy C&L mass air meters. Their method of calibration is asinine. They mearly use a tube to direct flow accross the resistors of your stock elctronics and say that it is calibrated for 24# injectors. When you get the Pro-M Bullet, you will find that the "new" electronics that come with it are trully burned in a calibated. They even include a calibration sheet with the part to show the voltage results during calibration. I'd post a picture of the calibration test sheet if I could.

Also I do not recommend the sheet aluminum valve covers from Muscle Motors.
First of all, they DO NOT have a billet rail as claimed. It is only bent and welded aluminum and that mating surface of the valve covers are not flat requiring one hell of a gasket job.
Second, they are too tall if you are using fuel injection and you have to raise the upper plenum with a spacer.
Third, raising the plenum will cause clearance issues with the hood. This may be different for other plenums, but I am using the Edelbrock Performer.
Fouth, the bolts sent with the valve covers are too short and don't even go all the way through the valve cover to reach the threads in the head.

Caviat emptor or what ever. I hope that you others can benefit from my misfortune. And thanks again for all the great help!

You can read about my problem symptoms here:
problem description

 

[David Borden]

Jeff,

Glad you got it sorted out...

Sorry you had so many troubles

How does she run

David

 

[JeFFR2603]

Runs really awesome!!!! The sound is very different with the Performer heads. More throaty and muffled at cruising speed, but really roars through the 4X4 headers when you goose the throttle.

Still gonna go back and double check the timing to get it back to 14 degrees BTDC. Also still need to make adjustments to keep the throttle body from hitting the hood. Those sheet metal valve covers were way more trouble than they were worth. I think if I get a EGR block of plate and get rid of the spacer it will move the throttle body over far enough to keep it from hitting the hood. If not I'll have to chuch those valve covers. After searching I've actually found much better looking ones for les money.

Now I need to get started on that new trany!

 

[Wade Chamberlain]

Jeff - glad it was an easy fix!

 

[MTcobra]

Just to add a comment on valve covers. I bought some Ford Motorsport Cobra valve covers. Boy I thought Cobra covers on a Cobra.

Problem was, the oil filler tube into the valve cover let oil spew out the valve cover. The pressed in sealing arrangement was crap. Had to go back to the stock valve covers.

So, the trick is to find valve covers that seal, clear the roller rockers, duck underneath the throttle linkage and look good.

Ditto on the Pro M mass air meters. Best way, even with a Pro M, to tell the computer about what voltage from the meter is how much air flow, is to datalog and change the air flow curve. This is needed because of custom or different intake configurations in front of and behind the mass air meters. Some custom chip makers do this and the tuning devices do this (EEC tuner, TwEECer, etc.)