[AMC-list] eagle valve cover

["Eddie Stakes" <eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Richard and whoever else was interested in the change over from plastic valve covers to 
metal ones. I am not sure I mentioned this but I had a plastic type on my 82 Eagle wagon. 
It used to leak no matter what one did, even took off, cleaned, and retighted with lots of 
Permatex. I got a aluminum one from Kennedy after the Eagle caught on fire. Not because of 
the oil dripping, but because of a combination of oil, but a fuel line was brittle and 
sprayed gas on engine, and made for combustion!

I drove it to a pub about mile from house one night and noticed some smoke coming from 
under hood, nothing serious, then opened hood and off it went, so went inside, grabbed 
pitcher of water and doused it. Figuring I could make it home without looking like 
fireball I chanced it after 30 minutes as could not see in dark, even with flashlight, 
where fire began, but looked like under intake next to block. So got two things of water 
and timed the stop lights on I-10 just right to green, turned on Brittmoore, and after 
stop sign at Westview I smelled smoke again, so speeded up got around corner, car died on 
side street next to house, was smoking more than earlier, and glided into driveway, other 
AMCs scattering for lives from flaming Eagle.

Knowing when I opened the hood it would get ugly I ran to front of house and got hose, and 
then opened hood and yikes, whole valve cover was melted, wires, emissions, it was 
Chernobyl. Sprayed it down while kids watched. Amazingly, the car started back up, even 
with wet wires, no valve cover, and gas spraying everywhere, but moved it forward.

I ended up changing all fuel lines and hoses, tearing out all emissions (it is exempt from 
emissions) new carb, changing oil twice, and car runs great still at 210,000 miles.

The Kennedy valve cover when I bought it he did tell me that 'I would have to drill some 
holes' but I didn't do that, as most of the holes lined up fine and just added extra 
Permatex. It still does not leak, your results may vary however depending on driving, but 
this Eagle is driven hard and just this week when I sold my hurricane Ike 73 AMX to a guy 
in NY, the Eagle was the same car that pushed this AMX up the transport ramps into the 
long 18 wheeler, so heavy duty work.

Good luck,
Eddie Stakes
713.464.8825
eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.planethoustonamx.com

Can anyone tell me IF the 258 valve cover w/2nuts on top that hold it down can
be changed to the set up with the bolts around the edge, instead?
The rebuild on the 82 Concord Wagon has the 2 studs on top and it is leaking
lready.? Sure would like to go to the other set up and thought I would ask
before taking it apart to find out.? THANKS!
blessings,
richard
richard Estermyer
AMO Nationals -
american Dream 2010, Detroit August 12th-14th.
javelinman74@xxxxxxxxxxx
ww.a70sthingautomobilia.com

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