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History of LAT Valve Covers?
- Thread starter Jbetz812
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- 344
Hi Joe, At some point in time in the early 70’s Murray R. Cliff (MRC as you have noted) from Vancouver B.C. obtained the mould for the LAT Valve covers, and some other Moulds also from California which were Buddy Bar. He manufactured these valve covers that you have before you. This was done at a time when supplies were exhausted and Murray had batches cast up and sold them though the clubs at that time (pre internet and perhaps through Hemmings magazine, do you remember when we used to look for and buy parts that way?) These same moulds later on were purchased by Rick at Sunbeam Specialties which are used to this day. I actually have a set of these on my car.
Austin Healer
Gold forum user
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When Rick was selling these, he offered them 2 ways. Without the baffles for use with roller rockers, and with baffles for standard rockers.
66TigerMK1A
Gold forum user
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Mine came with the baffles in the box along with the spark plug looms. I actually had to add 1/2" spacers to clear the rockers as the LAT ones are very tight but mostly on one side
The ones in the pic above appear to have one of the bosses missing as the stock baffle is close to 6" long IIRC with another boss for that end
NO, I'm not going to take one off to check! Very hard t find a pic of the backside but lots of the 'pretty' side
Austin Healer
Gold forum user
- Messages
- 1,582
I fit them to a clients MK2 that had roller rockers. I installed the rockers and then the valve covers and rotated the engine over by hand... the rockers left marks in both corners. I little work with a rotary rasp on a drill made quick work of the clearance issues!Mine came with the baffles in the box along with the spark plug looms. I actually had to add 1/2" spacers to clear the rockers as the LAT ones are very tight but mostly on one side
The ones in the pic above appear to have one of the bosses missing as the stock baffle is close to 6" long IIRC with another boss for that end
NO, I'm not going to take one off to check! Very hard t find a pic of the backside but lots of the 'pretty' side
- Messages
- 81
I appreciate the comments and knowledge shared. As one member always tells me “None of this will make your Tiger faster”, but I like to have the history and pass it on when given the chance. With the Tiger covers, I have seen four styles. MRC, Buddy Bar, SS all have the long baffle plate. I have seen pictures of a fourth style with the short baffle plate and currently trying to close a deal on a pair. The short baffle plate manufacturer is what has me “baffled”
