are the clips on the inboard side of the covers used to support the wires to solenoids painted black or do they havh a rubber coat on them. if so does it cover the whole clip.
also the gromments for PVC the same are different styles
are the clips on the inboard side of the covers used to support the wires to solenoids painted black or do they havh a rubber coat on them.
What makes you think they are black? Are you observing these on your car? In a photograph? If they are rubber coated (plastic is more likely if they are coated), it should be fairly easy to determine this by examining the clips. A coating would be probably nearly 1/32" thick, and easily seen.
My opinion is that if your clips are black, then they have been painted black. My 70 had no coating on the solenoid clips, but I am not that familiar with 72s. I think it's doubtful there is any coating on the clips. In any event, the clips would have been painted orange with the rest of the engine regardless of any rubber coating.
Re: 1972 base 350 valve covers (Chuck Sangerhausen)
when i took the covers off my vette (4th owner)to refinish there was a small amount of black coating on two of the clips im unsure if this was factory are maybe painted on later . what about gromments for PVC.
thanks for input :seeya
when i took the covers off my vette (4th owner)to refinish there was a small amount of black coating on two of the clips im unsure if this was factory are maybe painted on later . what about gromments for PVC.
thanks for input :seeya
Any thick coating on the clips is probably factory installed. Underhood harness clips have a plastic coating on them, which is likely to be lifting up at the edge by this time, and it will break off if you pick at the edge. The valve covers were probably assembled by spot welding the plastic coated clips to the cover. But, as I said before, they would have been painted orange with the engine.
Valve cover grommets are natural unpainted rubber; oil fill plug is black rubber on the driver side valve cover. Some late 72s may have the metal 70 style oil fill cap.
Yes, a small black coating on these clips is original for a 1972. It was, of course, subsequently painted orange when the motor was painted, but I'm not surprised that after 30 years the orange has come off. That's not unusual.
If the black plastic has come off, you can reproduce the coating by dipping the clip in a little Plasti-Dip.
Hey Patrick, you finally migrated from the NCRS DB and Vetteheads to this great list? Only 74 posts huh? You better catch up.
I would suggest that if you want to know what the clips look like, buy the NCRS judging manual for 70-72. I quote: " 1972 covers have clips spot welded to the inboard side of the covers to support wires to the solenoids." From my obserbvations, these clips are dipped and then, when the engine is painted,they get their orange spray, just as Patrick said.
Gary
Gary,
I am perplexed at your response to the clips on the valve covers having a black coating. I have checked my 3 revisions to the 70-72 judging manual and the quote from your post above .I just cant find any mention of the black coating. I am willing to learn and would like to know where you saw this.
You know, Ed, you made me go and look in my 70-72 JG. I swear I recall seeing that but, you are right, there isn't anything there. Could I have been thinking about mid-years? I owned a 66 L79 that a PO had installed steel valve covers on instead of the aluminum ones. I will pull out my old 66 JG to see. Now you got me wondering. Maybe big blocks? Scuse me while I run down into the kitchen looking for the humble pie. ;)
The original base engine stamped steel painted valve covers on my '70 have the black rubberized coating on the passenger side clip which was painted orange. Admittedly, not much orange was left on the clip when I got the car, but it went back on when I repainted the valve covers. :) ~Juliet
I'd say that the black coating is used irregularly in 1971 and 1972. I'll put it this way: I believe that either is acceptable. I have examples of both in my collection of valve covers.
Ever seen clips on the passenger's side of a 72? That's even less common, but possible. My Bowtie candidate (97.2 Top Flight in 2000) 1972 has those, and I've seen just a few others.
Remember, the Judging Guide is a GUIDE, and not all permutations of a part are described. Besides, the base motor cars tend to get ignored, and data like this missed.
Gary, I usually don't visit more than once a week or two because I dislike the long load times of CF, even with my cable modem.
Patrick,
My 72 has the clips on left and right valve covers, which I have found to be very typical. I know that a fine point like this is very hard to prove consistenly as age could and will alter the configuration through the years. I can only give my experience with a car that I purchased new and I know very well and the number of cars that I have judged and seen through the years. I did all the necessary preperation work for the Duntov Award on my 72. This is a difficult task as I am sure you know. Does this make me an expert, absolutely not. I have found through the years that it is impossible to know everything about these cars and even at my age I am still willing to learn more. I believe we need to keep the discussions factual and constructive and let each draw their own conlusions as to what is correct. Especially as you pointed out the judging guide does not always go into specific detail.
Regards
Ed
Corvette Store
1972 base 350 valve covers
