C2 Power Brake Booster issue

[Donald H.]

We replaced the engine in my friends 67 big block. The engine was not orginal or even close to correct. The original engine was long gone when my friend bought the car in 1981 and at the time he just put in what he could find. It was a 396 block with 67 435 horse components (heads, tri-power, cam, etc.). We found three cracked cylinders recently and he didn't want to chase finding a correct 427 block, so we installed a new ZZ427-480 crate engine.

Now for the issue. He wants to keep the engine dressed more like a vintage 427. Since the engine has roller rockers, the vintage 67 style valve covers will not work. However, he found a set of extended heights (about 1/2") vintage looking valve covers, I think the manufacturer refers to them as cheater valve covers. The driver side valve cover has the indention as it should for the brake booster, however, it was still at least 1/4" or more to high to fit under the booster. We manage to reconfigure the valve cover with a BFH and deep socket turned on it side to create more of an indention in the valve cover to get it to fit under the booster, but it's still pretty close. Actually doesn't look to back.

The only other solutions is to remove the power brakes, which he does not want to do. Or, replace the booster with a smaller diameter one.

So my question is does anyone know of a smaller diameter booster that would work with the 67 brake setup?

Thanks,
Don

[Mike T.]

Re: C2 Power Brake Booster issue

Don - The only smaller sized PB boosters I've seen are the ones typically found on Street Rods, can't say I've ever seen one used in a Midyear.
Two things worth checking into that just might help the clearance problem your friend is having are (1) thicker valve cover gaskets and (2) finding a shorter Polylock since that's the part of a roller rocker that usually causes the interference issue. This last year I put together a couple smallblock engines and on one I went with Howards Roller Rockers, the other had Comp Cams Roller Rockers and I noticed that the polylocks were different height-wise.
Good luck and keep us posted.