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MG MGA - H.R.G. Derrington Valve Cover

Greetings to all,

By chance, does anyone know a source who might be able to secure for me a Derrington valve cover? I've been watching for a LONG time but never seen one come available. Any ideas appreciated! Cheers!
Robert Maupin

What's a Derrington valve cover??
F Camilleri

The valve cover was often supplied with the Derrington cross-flow alumn. combustion head which was a period accessory that gave the MGA stock engine a 15% boost in HP.
Robert Maupin

Photo attached of a HRG Derrington cylinder head with the valve cover.
This is a cross-flow aluminium head with four inlet ports and three exhaust ports.

Mick


M F Anderson

I believe that Brown and Gammons had recreated the HRG head but I havent checked to see if they still list it. It could possibly be a source for a replacement tappet cover. Also Moss list a cross-flow head (MSX?)but I dont know how close theirs is to the HRG pattern but worth an enquiry.

I wouldnt have thought that an owner of an original HRG head would want to part with a tappet cover.

Have you checked to see if a modern ally cover will fit as looking at the image above, they look much the same.

If not, maybe it is possible to modify a modern ally cover by welding a correctly shaped plate onto the bottom of the cover?

The difficulties would probably be

1: To get the plate cut and shaped to fit the gasket surface of the head.

2: To get a expert ally welder who can make a neat job of the welding.

3: To get the gasket surface of the cover perfectly flat. It would probaby need milling flat after the welding.

Sounds a lot of work!

Best of luck
Colyn

PS Have you any more info on the car in the picture Mick? it looks fantastic.
Are those roll-cage bars running along the outer edge of the engine compartment? I havent seen those fitted before.

Colyn Firth

Probably does not solve Robert's problem, but other makes of cross flow heads are available. This one appears to take a standard B-Series rocker cover. I am surprised the Derrington head is not likewise.

http://www.webcon.co.uk/newitems/manifolds.htm

Steve
Steve Gyles

The valve covers are interchangeable between normal and crossflow heads.

In fact Derringtons sold many pats for many different cars. The covers did not only come with the crossflow heads - there should be some floating around out there.

The usual finish was crackle black but shiny was an option. I have a couple sitting in my garage, as it happens on the HRG heads, but they didn't come that way necessarily.
Bill Spohn

Hey guys,

Clerification? I have an original Derrington head and proper intake currently fitted to my new coupe rebuilt engine, but still trying to find the a companion valve cover. The engine currently sports the typical/ original/standard valve cover and fits very well. I'm hoping to find the cover that went with the Derrington head. Any help much appreciated. Cheers!
Robert Maupin

The quality of the repro items seems to be a bit questionable. See here

http://flowspeed.com/msx-tribute.htm
dominic clancy

Greetings all,

Well, the search for the elusive H.R.G. Derrington valve cover has ended. The other day I received a blind email from a chap who had one for sale and we arrived at a price we were both comfortable with. Appearently one of you fellows knew him, or perhaps he simply read the post. Anyway, he was not one of the contributors to this thread so I'm not sure how he found out I was seeking the item. Just glad he did. So, if one of you passed on my quest to another, THANKS! Unfortunately, the attachment hardware, bolts, washers, gaskets/gromments are not forthcoming. Another search might be in the offing once I receive the cover and see whats required. Cheers!
Robert Maupin

This thread was discussed between 31/01/2010 and 07/02/2010

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