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By Ted - 9 Years Ago
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I’m looking for a set of the aluminum Mercury valve covers that can be used on the Engine Masters Challenge Y entry. I’ll be modifying the covers with additional breathers so loaners will not work. I’ll need to buy these so I can modify them appropriately.
In lieu of finding a set of those, I’ll consider a set of stamped steel Mercury covers or for that matter, any unique cover for a Y that will still help to identify the EMC engine as a member of the Y family of engines. I’ve already used the Thunderbird covers in the past for the 2010 EMC entry and in talking with Jon Kasse, he is planning on using the TBird covers. No need for two Y engines having the same covers this year so I’m looking for something different.
If you’ve got something, simply contact me at ted at eatonbalancing dot com. Some other contact information is at www.eatonbalancing.com .
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By slick56 - 9 Years Ago
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Lindsay Shoemark (Y-bloke) in Oz does 3 different types of Mercury covers
https://www.facebook.com/ybloke/photos_stream
Here is his phone number, 61 2 6921 5950
ybloke56@hotmail.com
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By Ted - 9 Years Ago
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Thanks for the information. I’ve sent Lindsay an email and will see what he has available.
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By NoShortcuts - 9 Years Ago
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Slick56: I'm glad that you were able to supply the valve cover source info to Ted.
I thought that I saw an advertisement for the same cast aluminum valve covers on eBay a short time ago, but was unable to find any info pertaining to the offering.
I guess I need to set-up a Facebook account so that I can look at them, too. 
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By Oldmics - 9 Years Ago
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Those finned covers with the "Mercury Man" are super cool looking.
I did have a pair of those but they left me when I sold the M 260 parts that I had acquired.
Don't know if you want to spend that kinda money but they would certainly be a Y Block standout .
Oldmics
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By hjh - 9 Years Ago
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Ted I have a set off a 60 Merc.no not "the" 60 Merc , but one I parted out. The are dirty & the local shop that would bake stuff to clean it has closed that operation down .Can we say EPA ? I can soak them to remove some of the sluge & they are good and straight. If nothing happens with the other ones ,just let me know & and after I clean them a bit they will be on their way free of any charge Harry
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By NoShortcuts - 9 Years Ago
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Hmmmmm...
The valve covers Oldmics and Slick56 refer to would be striking, Ted. Modifying them for use in the Engine Masters Competition may not agree with the budget or, more significantly, the comments you may wish them to evoke when viewed by observers of the event.
IF I'm understanding correctly, Lindsay's aluminum casting are aftermarket custom and while 'attractive and distinctive', they are unlike anything seen in that era on the 'small' species y-block Mercs. More specifically... yes, they're being produced now, BUT they are not what was used on production Mercury 256, 292, or 312 y-blocks of the 1954 - 1960 era.
Consider using original type steel valve covers that have the embossed Mercury letters, modify them as needed for the competition, and then having them chrome plated to make them 'distinctive' but also truly relate-able to the earlier time. -This would be in keeping with what Ted did in 2010 when '55-'57 'Bird-only valve covers were used, but they had been made strikingly distinctive by their being painting black.
Ted indicates that Kasse's valve covers will be original Ford type as were original (as an option) on the '55 -'57 'Birds only. These will be original AND speak to the era of the engine. While there will be much to the Eaton and Kasse's entries that will not be 'of-the-era', perhaps having original style valve covers, an identifiable moniker for the engine, would be a plus for viewers' to identify with the history of the engine entered in the competition. Back in the '50s, there was significant competition between the Ford and Mercury divisions...
I do LIKE Lindsay's valve covers. I just wonder IF they would be the 'best flag' for the Eaton entry to carry for this competition. Similarly, to stay in identify-able character, perhaps Ted's engine entry should be painted a y-block Mercury period color, too. Weren't '56 Merc 312s a gold color? -Food for thought...
Best Wishes to all involved in the EMC entry.
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By Ted - 9 Years Ago
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Charlie. I originally thought I might take a beating for adding additional breathers and some selective ‘black’ powder coating to the original Thunderbird covers used on the 2010 EMC entry but nary a word was said. Under normal circumstances, the stamped steel ‘Mercury’ covers would be my top choice as I have already used stamped steel ‘decal’ covers in 2009 and oem aluminum Thunderbird covers in 2010. But after communicating with Lindsay Shoemark, the decision now will be exactly which ‘Shoemark’ aluminum cover to actually use. While the aluminum ‘MERCURY’ lettered covers are more identifiable, the Big M aluminum cover with the face of Mercury on it has a given amount of old school Mercury to it. The actual selection will still depend a lot on the covers actually clearing the roller rocker arm setup that’s being used. More on that will be known once both sets of covers are here and fitted to the engines prior to modifying the set being used with additional breathers. Plan C is to fall back to a set of stamped steel Mercury covers in the event the aluminum covers don’t adequately clear the roller rocker arm setup. As a side note, I have some B/C covers out of New Zealand with a different style of Thunderbird logo on them that I considered but those simply don’t clear the rocker arms.
At this point, gold is my top choice for the engine color. In support of this is the 312 dyno mule having been gold since 2009 and still looks good. Jon Kasse and I have discussed each other’s plans for engine colors and valve covers to insure that both engines are identified as ‘different’. No clue at this point as to what Jon’s intake is going to look like but unless dyno testing proves otherwise, the intake manifold I’m using will be a far cry from anything conventionally offered for the Y.
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By NoShortcuts - 9 Years Ago
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I hope that one of Lindsay's valve cover offerings will clear your valve train, Ted!
I'm glad that you and Jon Kasse have been able to coordinate the appearance of your engine entries so they'll be different.
I look forward to this year's EMC event. I wish the competition was televised for those of us out in the peanut gallery.
Best Wishes to all the FoMoCo y-block engine species competitors!
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By Y block Billy - 9 Years Ago
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I have some stamped steel ones if needed!
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By Ted - 9 Years Ago
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Y block Billy (8/6/2015)
I have some stamped steel ones if needed!
Billy. Thanks for the offer but both Harry and Carl have already offered up some steel covers. Harry is sending me a set of ‘Mercury’ steel covers so I can start preparing them for use in the event the aluminum covers don’t arrive in time and/or do not clear the roller rocker arm setup. The 'MERCURY' lettered steel valve covers is Plan C at this point in time; Plans A & B are the two different sets of aluminum ‘Mercury’ covers.
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