point me in the best direction for NOS or VERY original reproduction valve covers
My dads 68s valve covers cleaned up pretty good but are pitted and one got some chrome blown off when it was hit with a air compressor so we need new ones we want them as original as possible....like under the air cleaner cover it has a warning we would like the ones replace all this with to have the same labels etc on them like the originals.
is there anywhere that is closer to original than say midamerica?? I notice some on ebay have the sticker on the valve covers that I think was on the originals when new this is stuff were looking for but WE DON'T DO EBAY
BB or SB? Crane's Corvette reproduces all 3 or 4 styles of the original flash chrome BB valve covers. I believe Paragon sells them too.
The decals...Tonawanda #1 Team, and the horsepower suffix labels are available in reproduction. You stick them on yourself. I'm unaware of any silk screened (like the air cleaner) items on valve covers. Chuck
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1963 Riverside Red/Black 360HP FI, 4 Spd, Roadster, NCRS Top Flight
1969 Monaco Orange/Black 427/400HP, Auto, Roadster, NCRS Top Flight
1956 Chevy 150 2 Door Sedan. 355CI, 4 Spd, Vintage Air, "Hot Rod"
2001 Millenium Yellow LS1, Automatic, Coupe
BB or SB? Crane's Corvette reproduces all 3 or 4 styles of the original flash chrome BB valve covers. I believe Paragon sells them too.
The decals...Tonawanda #1 Team, and the horsepower suffix labels are available in reproduction. You stick them on yourself. I'm unaware of any silk screened (like the air cleaner) items on valve covers. Chuck
Thanks for the advice I'll check them out! and its a 427 390hp big block
You should do some "research" before you buy. As I said, there are several styles. The styles have to do with the presence/absence of the "power brake crunch" on the drivers side. Instead of a "crunch", some have a slope. Some have the "thumb" projection for the drippers, some don't.
Also, has to do with the placement of the spark plug brackets and other clips. Various styles were used with BB's from 65 to 74. Some were painted, some were "flash chromed".
Do your homework and see what's appropriate for your car. Are you CERTAIN that you're replacing the "REAL" original valve covers? Can't be sure of much with a 37 year old car, unless you've owned it for a LONG time. Chuck
You should do some "research" before you buy. As I said, there are several styles. The styles have to do with the presence/absence of the "power brake crunch" on the drivers side. Instead of a "crunch", some have a slope. Some have the "thumb" projection for the drippers, some don't.
Also, has to do with the placement of the spark plug brackets and other clips. Various styles were used with BB's from 65 to 74. Some were painted, some were "flash chromed".
Do your homework and see what's appropriate for your car. Are you CERTAIN that you're replacing the "REAL" original valve covers? Can't be sure of much with a 37 year old car, unless you've owned it for a LONG time. Chuck
Chuck
Yeah I'm trying to do my HW before I order any I have noticed the slant for the PB cars and talk about drippers (have no clue what drippers are) so right now jsut kinda overwhelmed and wondering if I order will I have ordered the exact covers I needed.
the car has PS but doesn't have PB so I don't think I need the ones with the slanted end on the drivers side, mid america has some but says they vary slighty from the originals and only gives like the year and bb or sb it doesn't meantion pb etc..
got a lot of hw to do finding where to buy I guess huh!
ALL of the BB drivers side valve covers have relief for the PB booster, whether you have PB or not.
Drippers are projections, spot welded within the interior of each valve cover. Their purpose is to "drip" oil onto the rocker arms.
ALL original valve covers have drippers, and have the pock marks visible on the outside where they're spot welded.
Wouldn't buy anything but wax and T shirts from Mid America. I just don't care for their stuff. Decals, clothes, C5 chrome goodies, etc. seem to be the items they specialize in. Contact Paragon or Crane's. Chuck
ALL of the BB drivers side valve covers have relief for the PB booster, whether you have PB or not.
Drippers are projections, spot welded within the interior of each valve cover. Their purpose is to "drip" oil onto the rocker arms.
ALL original valve covers have drippers, and have the pock marks visible on the outside where they're spot welded.
Wouldn't buy anything but wax and T shirts from Mid America. I just don't care for their stuff. Decals, clothes, C5 chrome goodies, etc. seem to be the items they specialize in. Contact Paragon or Crane's. Chuck
OH...thats why they look slighty dented on the outside! I've been wondering about that....anyway yeah I want some that have the drippers so they look original but the ones on websites look smooth and not dimpled like that on top where the drippers are so I gotta watch out for that and find some that have those.
btw if I end up nothing finding any with drippers and dimpled on the outside like that would it hurt anything?
OH...thats why they look slighty dented on the outside! I've been wondering about that....anyway yeah I want some that have the drippers so they look original but the ones on websites look smooth and not dimpled like that on top where the drippers are so I gotta watch out for that and find some that have those.
btw if I end up nothing finding any with drippers and dimpled on the outside like that would it hurt anything?
Paragon has whatever you need - they have the type used on "early" '68 cars and the type used after that, in both "absolutely original" and "pretty close", in both flash-chrome (original) and show-chrome, all with drippers; check your wallet and take your pick.
The wire stands and power brake booster relief configuration matched my original covers. I have a December build '68 so I got lucky. I know the wire stand positions and configurations of the PB booster relief changed over the years so these may not be an exact match for you but the price difference may alleviate those concerns.
These covers have the drippers as the originals do too. Many after market repros don't.
I think the only thing an NCRS guy might complain about is that the chrome plating is TOO nice!!
Hey thanks thats about what we've been looking for! something not too expensive yet pretty original looking.
question though here is exactly what the covers on his 68 l36 look like
SO if I order the "BB Chevy valve covers with drippers
$89.95 *1210New chrome valve covers will fit the BB Chevy 1965-up 396-402-427-454 engines. "
with the chrome finish WITHOUT the recessed corner (since this car doesn't have PB) will I be ordering what I need? just making sure if so were ordering these like you said it woulda been better just to have flash chrome on them but hey for the money these look great.
*the picture above is from paragons site thats the $490 ones
You need to decide exactly what you want to do with your car. If you want it to look original, look all chromed up, pass a NCRS or Bloomington flight judging, or just go fast and look cool. Once you decide what you want you can make decisions based on that theme.
There are catalogs out there for every style that someone wants. Paragon and DR. Rebuild for the factory correct afficcionados. Summit for performance, Ecklers for dress up etc. Its your car do it as you like it.
well we want it to be able to be judged by NCRS judges and get good reviews so let me ask you guys this and I will put this thread to sleep.
would it be best to re chrome the air cleaner, valve covers and shielding
OR go with very factory reproductions like paragon offers? again we want to end up with a very original engine detail that would get good reviews if judged.
if we do re chrome any good places you know to send the parts too? I wouldn't want some bubba place to say re chrome the air cleaner and chrome over the warning on the inside or something.
Last edited by wildman378; 04-29-2005 at 12:59 AM.
Location: Those who say it can't be done should get out of the way of the ones who are doing it.
All Corvettes whether they had P/B or not had the P/B recess in the left hand cover. I kept my original valve covers but was quoted by a few chrome shops at $200 per cover to replate them. I wan't ready to spend that kind of cash when "correct" new ones were available at Paragon for a bit more. When I found these, I was thrilled to have great looking covers with the original drippers and wire stands that are extremely close to my originals for a nice price to boot. If you want to see a shot of them on my chassis check out my site:
Right now, I'm just trying to get the car driveable and acceptable looking and can think of better ways to spend an extra $400+ on valve covers, right now.
My car's progressed quite a bit since I've updated the site but there are good shots of the installed covers there. These are very nice covers for the $$ and I think even a Corvette knowledgeable observer would not know the difference. An NCRS judge on the other hand, probably would not like the chrome. The originals are flash chromed with the dripper spot welds readily apparent, and were nothing to brag about even new. That's why the chances are good that yours are rusty or beat looking after 30 years. These covers are triple plated and are of very good quality so they suit my purposes very well for now.
Good luck. You've got a nice, original '68 worth whatever you want to spend--"correct" or "close to correct".
lemansblue68, not being an ass butnot all 68s had that recessed corner like you said I had a orignial big block 68 once it didn't and I know and see many others that don't have a recessed corner.
well we want it to be able to be judged by NCRS judges and get good reviews so let me ask you guys this and I will put this thread to sleep.
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If you want the car to judge as high as possible then you need to get either NOS or the very best exact repro units available. More money? You bet. Retain/increase value down line? You bet! Whatever you do be sure that you KEEP what original stuff you take off!
Corvette Store
point me in the best direction for NOS or VERY original reproduction valve covers
