I have a pair of those. I just looked, and from the bottom side the so-called "knock-outs" appear to be thin in the center. They could likely be knocked out, and the hole cleaned up by filing the edges smooth. There are provisions in the casting to use an oil cap in the hole.

Hope that helps....

 

I used a Dremel and then a round rat tail file to smooth out the rough edges.Takes time but worth the effort.

 

Thanks! yeah wasn't sure if they drill out or pop. I like the look of the old school MT covers.... the orange ones I currently have just don't cut it for me

 

I've always liked the old school look of M/T parts.I just picked up a set of early '60's M/T wheel spinners for my '64.

 

I would never grind down the oil drippers!Buy a set of tall valve covers if you are concerned or you can use thicker gaskets.My Nova has roller rockers.I bought tall covers and to be safe installed them using the thicker gaskets...they are about 1/4" thick.

 

Those will look great with those red lines. Nice looking Elky. What do you have for power?

 

Has a '68 Vette 327 Ken.

 

I used a small hole saw. For what that might be worth.

 

Bill, nice old school look to the 327 and clean clean, wow.... good looking stuff indeed.
Wes, same to ya, thanks for sharing the photo, both sharp looking power plants

 

Thanks Ken.I checked out your garage....SAWEEET!

 

Thanks Bill, I had looked for a long time for a 60. My father had one before me so I really liked em. I must admit, I like fishing, hunting, shrimp, beer, and El Camino's

 

And my wife..

 

The knock outs do finally come out but after a lot of second guessing and pounding. Here's the real warning and trick, the casting or mold of the MT valve covers have these tips/tits casted inside that point toward the valve springs. When I removed the old covers I noticed they were cut off (glad I noticed) so I set the new covers on and turned the motor manually. The covers lifted up as I suspected. These are not low profile covers, the issue is the tips inside. So I cut them off as well... if someone didn't realize this, it would have caused issues or maybe the chunks of metal would have set in there around the springs and not caused an issue but! could cause big issues if you ask me. Poor design and Holley should warn folks they need to cut these things off. Not sure the logic of them in the first place. Amazing..... will post some photos next week
I will send a letter to Holley or contact them somehow. Also, I'm guessing if you didn't notice this, the valves would have snapped the tips and very possibly crack your new valve covers.

 

I used a hole saw for my "knock-outs"

Mine also didnt have the tips as they are old school from before Holley.

 

those tips/tits are oil drippers, they direct the oil coming from the pushrod down to the valve train,,
and they usually don't fit with aftermarket longer valves, springs, roller rockers and polylocks..
they do serve a purpose, making them smaller is better than removing them,
without them the oil hits the top of the valve cover and just runs down the inside away from the
rockers and springs..

but the roller rockers may not need as much oil as the stock rocker pivot balls..

:texas:

 

Thanks JJLT1 and ELKYBILL, welp that explains the purpose of the tits. I've actually already cut them off as the old covers were already removed which didn't seem to be an issue. These drips (which now I'm schooled as to what they are) were long, really long. I have basically stock flat tapped rockers and just a mild cam so I'm not sure why these covers didn't cut the mustard. The way it is, they'll still capture some oil and drip in that area since I didn't cut them flat.

This may be stupid small stuff to many but it's a learning adventure for me. Fun but I hope I don't destroy to many things along the way. Will stick a current photo of new covers in the garage.
Thanks all

 

If these M/T covers are actually lower profile, what sort of configuration would have cleared these drip castings? These drip castings are approx 3/4 long or longer. So it's hard for me to know what kind of set up would have cleared them.

Also, looking it seems most valve cover undersides are smooth so I can only guess that cutting the drips off or (80%) off is going to be ok. Just me guessing

 

Ken a lot of valve cover manufacturers offer "tall" covers.Sounds like you are OK though.I wouldn't worry about it anymore.It's a learning adventure for us all!