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Tight fit. I guess I never really noticed. Things are often overlooked, until they become a problem.

So the long-awaited two types of grommets arrived from Concours Parts yesterday. As expected both are similar dimensionally where they fit into the valve covers, either steel or aluminum. The difference is the ones marketed as "early" do not have the built-in flat washer on top. Neither will fit the Spotlite Kustoms valve covers. Not a big deal, since using umbrella seals and flat washers instead of OEM grommets worked perfectly.

Definitely a good idea to check your clearance between the intake and the forward valley cover bolt. I just installed a Mummert intake and realized it was making contact with the forward bolt head. Ended up grinding the bolt head down just a bit to gain some clearance. 

... both are similar dimensionally where they fit into the valve covers, either steel or aluminum. The difference is the ones marketed as "early" do not have the built-in flat washer on top. Neither will fit the Spotlite Kustoms valve covers.

Isn't that something?

So the rocker cover was not machined correctly?

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The Spotlite aluminum valve covers are not designed to use the factory grommets.  Besides the O.D. of the recess being too small to accommodate the factory grommet, the inner hole is also only sized to fit the 5/16” diameter rocker arm stud and not the extra diameter required to accommodate the protrusion on the bottom of the OEM grommet.  I did look at some of those covers that are sitting here and there’s simply not enough material to machine the valve covers for the oem grommets.
 
They are very good appearing covers for the Ford Y and the lower scallops matching the originals just reinforces the look.  Easy enough to make your own rubber seals and as someone has suggested, just using modified valve stem seals works.  On my end, I have just used appropriately sized rubber O rings along with a smaller diameter washer which gets the job done. 

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

"Catch 22"

If they were not designed to accept FORD SERVICE PARTS or offered an alternative, they should mention that.

I would hate to think what they cost and then you have to mickey mouse something to seal them.

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Years ago there was a Yblock rebuild series, I think it was Doc Frohmader. He put a nut on the rocker shaft stud then the grommet, and set the valve cover in place. He adjusted the nut till he got the pressure he wanted on the vac gaskets, then tightened them down. This prevented over tightening the vc and pushing the gasket out.

It’s a cloudy old memory, I’ve neve tried it or seen it anywhere else. I’d be inclined to go with Ted’s suggestions, but if they don’t work out for you, maybe?

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

Was a step left out, or am I overlooking something? If the grommet and nut are placed on the stud before the valve cover is in place, how do you tighten the nut? One nut was used under the valve cover and one on top? Were 2 grommets used as well? 

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