any ideas on RV8

[ceejayjay]

Chaps,

Fitted Edlbrock chrome rocker covers, and no leaks. Great!! but but of course these covers have no screw hole to secure the dipstick. I tried starpping it over towrds the body but I reckon this not onlt look awful but that it looks like its spraying oil on the plug leads and exhaust. Not a big deal & definitely not coming from the adapter plates.

The obvious solution would seem to be to drill a hole into the adapter plate and a self tapper to put the original bracket back in place.

I'm sure somebody out there has had the problem. Any better solutions?

Thanks

[stevee8]

How about making up a bracket to one of the exhaust header bolts?

[Paul B]

Not quite sure what you are trying to do. My RV8 has never used any of the rocker cover bolts to secure the dipstick. This is secured by a small clamping bracket off one of the cylinder head bolts that has a tapped hole in the top rather than just an ordinary bolt.

Will try and get a photo to show what I mean.

Paul

[ceejayjay]

Cheers. I had standard 1977 RV8 rocker covers and I think this was a regular fitment then looking at workshop manual. Exhaust bracket may be an option to consider. The other might be to knock up a bracket that might slip under a rocker cover bolt
Thanks

[Paul B]

Here is a photo showing the bracket coming off one of the outer head bolts.

Hope this helps.

Paul

[ceejayjay]

thanks Paul

[craggle]

SD1's and later engines have the dipstick supported by a small p-clip screwed into the side of the cast rocker covers.

I would mark the adapter plate and drill and tap a small thread in that, to secure it in the same place.

Craig.

[arny]

This shows fixing bracket used for Cobra covers.

[ceejayjay]

Thanks all. I think I'll go with Craigs solution. Dumb question coming. Happy to drill hole etc, but can one get a screww to cut its own thread or do I need a special thing to do it. As you'll have guessed I'm not ven a gifeted amateur!! Thanks

[craggle]

If the plates are aluminium you could try using the same self tapping screw that Rover used originally. Just don't make the hole too small and snap the screw in the hole or will be in trouble.

Best to cut a proper thread in there with a tap.
A tap looks like a bolt but has flutes down the sides. The idea is that the flutes have a sharp cutting edge and as you wind the tap in the tapered part starts to cut the thread then as you get going it uses the cut threads to pull it self in. You are meant to turn the tap one turn then back half a turn to break the swarf, Then continue.
Tapping aluminium is often trickier than steel as it so soft it is easy to pull the threads out rather than cutting new ones.
All metals have a tendency to stick to the tap and can seize in the hole if used dry. Use a proper tapping fluid or at least some thick engine oil on the tap.

Taps are shown on the link below

http://www.e-taps.com/products.htm

If in doubt find a local garage or engineering shop and ask there advice. Most will probably do the job for you for the price of a couple of pints.

Craig.