I just got through changing the intake maifold on my 454. I installed an Eldelbrock mainifold in place of the stock one. The problem I'm having is the air cleaner sits at a different height and the intake hits the oil fill pipe on the right sied of the engine. I always have had trouble putting oil in the engine from the outside because of the location of the fill pipe. I found that by pulling out the pipe from the valve cover I can just pour the oil right in the engine. Has anyone ever made a cap that can be used in the valve cover? I could just do away with the pipe all together. One other thing, I have a bolt left over. It is a 5/16 bolt about 4 inches long. I might have brought it in from the shop. I checked the alternator brackets and all my bolts are installed there. I had to move the power steering out of the way, but I'm sure that I installed all the bolts there. I replaced the water pump, but there are four bolts that hold that thing on and they are all there. I always hate having parts left over expecially when I'm working on my airplane..

I don't know what year your coach is but on my 77 454 when we took out the extended oil fill a stock GM oil cap fit.

If your fill pipe is (was) held in place by a neoprene grommet, Chevy used to make a blank neoprene stopper for the valve cover. Be sure you get a big-block stopper; they also made one for small blocks which appear to be the same size but aren't.
"I had to move the power steering out of the way..." Two bits says it is from the power steering pump bracket; look again, carefully.
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"You are what you drive" - Clint Eastwood



[This message has been edited by Gunner (edited March 08, 2005).]