Were you able to get price and availability on the plain version of these valve covers?

Yes,, when I told a couple of others who sent me PM's I think they had heart attacks. 

Hopefully Pro Comp cleaned theirs up since I saw samples (at their warehouse) that looked like they had been cut out with an axe, completely unfinished edges even though they were polished.

I will toss out my idea, since I have seen it happen to guys before.  How old was the gas in the boat?

Yes it's possible the valve was tired, but if you go out with old gasoline and run hard with old gas (maybe it sat 4-5 months?), then you probably had some detonation and heat going on.   

I have two in the  OEM  crate gen 4 pro stock blocks, what is the market for them If I sell them.

What's a "pro stock block",,, bowtie?  What's the part number or casting number?

I have a super low hours(about 20) Gen 6 454 HO block, standard bore, with fuel pump boss.  I will also supply a nice Gen 6 427 crankshaft, and a set of used GM rods with forged TRW pistons (std bore), small dome, should be close to 10-1 compression with open chamber heads.  $1000 for all of it.  Note, the assembly is not balanced. 

Also, for someone looking to build a decent engine on a beer budget, I have a set of Gen 5/6 peanut port ovals that have been match ported to a larger oval port gasket, freshly rebuilt and not run, $300.

P.S comp ratio was figured as 4.25 bore 4.25 stroke 4.500/.040 head gasket -.016 deck -2cc valve relief

Most single valve relief pistons that I have used are -3cc.

Problem is, you (and probably he) do not know deck height or which gasket was used, or even the combustion chamber size.  Figuring at zero deck with a 118cc chamber and a smaller bore gasket, it could be 8.74 to one.

My point was, it can be made to run fairly decent if he isn't needing to extract every last horsepower from it.  The GN engine that I re-cammed was perhaps 8-1 compression.

I am swapping a Weiand stealth intake in for my cobra jet manifold . My question is the Thermostat cover now houses the temp sending unit and some one tapped the front of the manifold with fittings for the water hoses . I would like to change the thermostat cover to empty the block ,but where do I put the coolant temp sensor ?? Thanks

Seems like the easy answer is where one of the current water lines is if you are moving them?

It is not in caps, but I figured caps were warranted. I guess I just always stopped reading after I passed turbos and blowers. My bad!

So at least you know I was not lying about it.  Sometimes instructions are a good thing. 

Clearances will vary some depending on application, forced induction perhaps a bit more piston to wall clearance and ring gap due to additional heat.  Drag race engines may be set with the bearing clearances a bit looser than endurance applications, or recreational usage.

Piston to wall will vary by piston type and alloy.  I always consult the manufacturer if their paperwork does not give a clear specification.  Same with rings,, depending on whose you buy, there are various different suggested ring gaps.

I need more space, so need to sell some of my personal stash of blocks. 

If interested, PM for my phone number or more information.

Std bore Gen 6 std deck with fuel pump boss, ultra low hours, will run at std.  I also have a Gen 6 427 crank, along with std bore forged pistons and and rods to put together a pump gas 427 engine.

Gen 5 block, cleaned and fresh bore to 4.280" (.030 over)

Gen 5/6 Milodon super comp pan, mint condition

Several MK IV and Gen 6 4" stroke cranks

Several MK IV 4 bolt std deck 454 blocks

2 bolt 454 block freshly bored and honed to .040" over (4.290")

Several SBC blocks,, 4 bolt 350's,, 400, and a couple of 305's

352 Ford block and crank (1964 std bore block)

351 C 2 bolt Ford block and crank

New 4.250" BBC Chinese forged crank, unknown brand, for external balance.  Good for low budget 496 build,, use your existing 454 balancer and flywheel/flexplate. 

New set of (10) forged BME 4.500" pistons for 540, solid dome, easy to adjust to desired compression ratio.

Misc BBC cylinder heads,, singles and pairs.

I rebuilt a blown 496 for a guy who bought a used blower engine from across the country and found it had multiple issues.  It was a 2 bolt block that exhibited signs of "cap walk".  I don't recall how much boost he claimed it had been running, I think around 8-10 lbs or so, so maybe 800 HP or so as a wild guess.

I built a pump gas 496 NA engine (maybe around 600 HP ?) for another guy using a 2 bolt block only because he was on a real tight budget, and we could not quickly find a good deal on a 4 bolt core at the time.  Had a chance to inspect the main bearings on it after a number of outings and caps looked pretty good.

I think 1 11/16" bores (both primary and secondary, correct) indicate between 650 and 800 CFM.  The 4781 Holley 850 has 1 3/4" throttle bores.   I ckecked an older book that I have, but Holley does have all their carb specs online as well.

So I bought a tunnel ram last season with a motor that I later found out was trash.. Im trying to figure out if I can use the t/r with my new setup but dont know the CFMs on the Holleys and cant seem to find a site with numbers. He said they were 2 850s but that seems pretty excessive for a 468 that was pretty mellow. Not to mention the guy was one hell of a liar I later found out.  Problem is... the list number was cut off. Is there any other way to tell what they are? I heard by measureing the base plate but I cant find what measurements mean what carb.. Thanks!

The Holley website has tech information, including venturi bore sizes, although there is some overlap between various CFM and venturi sizes. 

You could run 850's on a 468, but tuning and therefore fuel economy may suffer.  What engine are you putting it on?

what do you guys think of  a complete GEN 5 454 HO minus the mani with about 15k miles for 800 bones?
have a family member lookin for quick cash due to a divorce  and wanting to get rid of his BBC...GOOD DEAL???

This was a new crate engine, or someone rebuilt it?  Which heads are on it?  As previously mentioned, the Gen 5 block limits which cylinder heads will work without water leaks, and you probably have to run an electric fuel pump.  If it has tiny peanut port heads, and cast pistons, don't know that it's worth very much as a marine engine, or rebuildable core.