Jim, I have been following  other threads about T5 trannys and I would be concerned about the strength, with all the torque of the Roadmaster. You should give G force a call, maybe they would rebuild or exchange for advertisizing.

Great idea Jim, could you do that for us?

Jim, I E-mailed G Force and will let you know what they say.

I recieved a E-Mail back from G Force saying they have stopped all sponsorships for the year because of tough economic times.

Yeah, we've heard a lot of that. Well, carry on, better luck next time.

Jim

Guys, do you think we should buy a set of aluminum valve covers for the car? The old tin covers are guaranteed to leak the first time we start the car up. I don't know the full range of what is available and at what cost, or what our chances are of buying used, it looks like the tin or chromed ones are nearly as much as new aluminum if you went by ebay prices but it might be possible to get a set of tin ones for under $50 on V8buick. New aluminum is probably going to be $150 but they will seal better.

Jim

I thnk that this should be one of the final purchases we make.

Oh, well I was just concerned about getting oil all over everything. We won't be able to run the engine with the ones that are on there. The only job they are doing is keeping dust out, they will never seal the oil in. I know everyone wants to see and hear the engine run but it's a real mistake to fire it up with those old bent up covers. We'll never get it all clean again. How do you think we should solve this problem?

Jim

Jim, I can start looking locally. What other engines use the same cover?

Tom, any of the big block Buicks would use the same covers. So the 400, 430 and 455 will all fit, though they don't all look the same. The mangled tin covers we have are from a 430, and if we have a choice I'd pick the ones from a 455 just because they identify the displacement, but any of those will do.

Jim

Somebody should have an old M/T set laying around.

Well, Jim...you didn't let us know that those crappy old covers weren't functional!  

:-)

I like the idea of the Buick 455 covers.

Jim, You have a PM.

Hey Jim... I think you have a PM

Thanks guys! I'll give Tony a call tomorrow and see what is up.

Things are shaping up nicely for the first work weekend. I'll have more to write after I get a chance to make a couple of calls tomorrow.

Jim

I talked to Tony Sarvis today (Astro Performance Warehouse, Inc. in Tavares, FL) who turned out to be a very interesting fellow and quite knowledgeable about the T5 transmission and all of it's variations. He is interested in being involved in the project and once he has had a chance to look over the tag numbers I sent him will make some recommendations based on the possible participation of some of his suppliers. The upshot is that we have a very good chance of ending up with an uprated tranny more suitably matched to the car. I'm sure we will be in touch again soon, he'll need axle ratio, tire size and such to recommend tranny gear ratios and I'll pass along information as I have it.

Jim

It's looking like I will likely be able to make the 1st work weekend in July.

That's great Carl! C'mon up. It'll be a good weekend.

Jim

Link to Tony's work. http://www.mustang50magazine.com/techarticles/m5lp_0707_mustang_t5_transmission_upgrade/index.html

There are several sets of 455 valve covers currently listed on evil-bay.

Are we interested in any of them?

Only thing I see is Pontiac and Oldsmobile.

edit: that was on a search for 455 valve covers. Searching Buick valve covers I found one set of 400 tin covers for $99. Before I'd buy those I'd go for the new aluminum ones.

Jim

There were a lot more than that.  

Like this?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Buick-GS-Skylark-1970-74-455-OEM-Valve-Covers-studs_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ65Q3a12Q7c66Q3a2Q7c39Q3a1Q7c72Q3a1171Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem4147388c18QQitemZ280367762456QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Yes....or these:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180376064884&viewitem=

I never cared for those stamped steel covers that are prone to leak.  I was thinking something along these lines (for a Buick, though).

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/M-T-chevrolet-BB-valve-covers-3276396-with-oil-drippers_W0QQitemZ170349388088QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item27a99d6138&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1171