Engine Do ford racing valve covers require a intake spacer?

[AnthonyA1234]

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]

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

 

[AnthonyA1234]

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]

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


They are a little bit hidden under there.

 

[AnthonyA1234]

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]

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

 

[AnthonyA1234]

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

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.

 

[AnthonyA1234]

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

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]

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

 

[Rcdgl]

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

 

[evintho]

1" long SS buttonhead bolts and an allen wrench.