Day 2 Valve Covers

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

What would be a correct Day 2 valve cover for '69 L78?

[Fast67VelleN2O]

Mickey Thompsons.

[al8apex]

or any other aftermarket valve cover, Cal Custom, Edelbrock, Weiand, Eelco, Ansen, Offenhauser, JC Whitney no name, etc, etc

[Schonyenko2]

M/Ts would be my choice with the 396/427 cast in. Back in the day before every body had an electric engraving tool, they'd take the covers to a jeweler who would engrave his name, or whatever, on the flat space to keep them from being stolen, or to identify them later.

[PxTx]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Schonyenko2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">M/Ts would be my choice with the 396/427 cast in. Back in the day before every body had an electric engraving tool, they'd take the covers to a jeweler who would engrave his name, or whatever, on the flat space to keep them from being stolen, or to identify them later. </div></div>

I second the thought of the early M/T with the 396 cast inot the cover. You see a fair amount of the 427 ones bouncing around these days, but the 396 ones are rare. Would be a nice compliment to an L78 car.

Here are the 427 covers (but I have seen 396 ones too)
http://memberfiles.freewebs.com/13/11/45611113/photos/Big-Block-Olds-intakes--valve-covers/M-T%25201968%2520b.jpg

here are the later 1970+ covers
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a25/swade41/Dirty%20Deeds%205th%20Blessing/100_5042.jpg

I especially like them chomed with the right breathers
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f317/hondachop/p1010645.jpg

[markjohnson]

'Ya know......M/T's are cool but they have been so overused by so many people, I was already burnt out of seeing them when I was only 15 years old. The Edelbrock BBC valve covers that someone recently posted in our Classifieds happens to be a period-correct set that look nice and are not quite so cookie-cutter-common. Holley also even made a version with their name also.

[PxTx]

I don't think Holley would have been correct for 1969. I know what you mean about things being common, so that is why the early 396 ones would be so cool.

Cragar SS wheels are probably just as popular, if not more so than the M/T valve covers. For some reason there are some things I just don't get tired of seeing.

[markjohnson]

Although I've seen and owned several sets of the &quot;427&quot; M/T's, I can't remember EVER seeing a set of the &quot;396&quot; versions. They must've had a very short production run.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

I like those M/T covers. What do the other types look like?

We are going to Day 2 Benjamin's '69 Nova SS, 4 bolt collector headers, some vintage valve covers, air cleaner/carb, ladder bars, Cragars, column tach, etc.... So, I want to get it 'right within reason'.

[camarojoe]

I like finned/polished Cal Customs.

[427.060]

I have the Edelbrock valve covers on my engine.
James

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b15/jfkheat/Beaumont%20Pics/IMG_0572.jpg

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: camarojoe</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I like finned/polished Cal Customs. </div></div>

Anybody have a pic of these?

I like those Edelbrocks too!

[Xplantdad]

So do I...! <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif

[ORIGLS6]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: camarojoe</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I like finned/polished Cal Customs. </div></div>

Anybody have a pic of these?

</div></div>

They're identical to these without the &quot;MOSHUN&quot; inserts. I have a pair screwed to the ceiling in my garage.

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m57/dmcumby/MoshunDan.jpg

[PxTx]

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww101/Plowman7/PxTx/calcusotm.jpg

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Oh yea - I like them the best!

[PxTx]

They look pretty neat are easy to find.

I'll admit I have a bias towards Mickey Thompson, or anyone I recognize as more of a &quot;hard-core&quot; parts manufacturer. They made real performance stuff, like crankshafts and all.

M/T, Cragar wheels, NMW were all &quot;made in the USA&quot; and were companies who earned thier reputation with track proven equipment.

On the other hand you have companies like Cal Custom who sold do-dad's and dress-up items. I kinda put them in the same category of Rocket with their knock-off Cragar SS wheels and other off-shore items.

Not mentioning all of this to discredit your choice, but simpley for perspective. If the car is getting the &quot;historically correct&quot; treatment there are some additional historical factors to weigh.

What the heck, the covers on Suydam's Motion Nova above are Cal and they don't hurt it. Okay, I'll stop rambling.

[camarojoe]

Thanks.

[Plowman]

On Mickey Thompson valve covers,most of the time, people would knock out the &quot;427&quot;or&quot;396&quot; for the PCV or breathers.

[Salvatore]

Cal Custom were popular also along with the MT's. M, I am hoping you meant slapper bars and not ladder bars for Bens car. There is a set of MT's for sale on the Site I believe.

[Fast67VelleN2O]

Don't forget that most M/T valve covers, when you find them, have made in Japan on the inside. So not all M/T stuff was made here.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: [email protected]</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Cal Custom were popular also along with the MT's. M, I am hoping you meant slapper bars and not ladder bars for Bens car. There is a set of MT's for sale on the Site I believe. </div></div>

Nope, I typed it right - I've got Ladder Bars, old school, NOS, yellow ones at that. I plan to install them for the look, not the function - I don't want the harsh ride.

I'm not trying to make it an all USA thing, just want to know what was around during that period - and what it looks like. I do like the plain vanilla look of the Cal Customs a little more than the E-brocks and M/T's - reminds me of the cheap, knock off stuff I bought for my first car!

[Salvatore]

sometimes the cheap, knock off stuff is harder to find in nice shape. Good deal!

[427TJ]

Edelbrock BBC covers originally had the curved script, like a rainbow, back in the '60s. I think they went to a flat, straight script &quot;Edelbrock&quot; in the '70s.

Never seen &quot;396&quot; M/Ts. Anyone got a photo?

Moon also makes nice covers that have a Day 2 look but are a new cover.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

I did notice the curved vs straight EDELBROCK script difference, guess I'm looking for the curved version - or the Cal's!

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Also thinking of going with multiple carbs..... Is this item period correct?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&amp;item=140457631693&amp;viewitem= &amp;sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

[396L35]

Yes that tunnel ram will work but you have to re-mount the thero housing.

[markjohnson]

Not period-correct. The Victor-style manifolds came out in the Eighties. This particular manifold was probably used in a Marine application, hence the backwards-mounted carburetors. A neat manifold to maybe keep an eye out for would be a late-Sixties style Weiand dual quad/dual plane manifold. I've seen them on original Nickey Super Camaros when the customer requested dual quads and the neat thing about it is that it is actually very very reminiscent of the Chevrolet dual plane factory hi-rise intake. It's a great looking manifold and if it weren't for the Weiand script, it would look like a factory Chevrolet offering. Being of the dual plane design, and with a couple nice vintage Carter Competition Series carbs, it would be a great Street/Strip manifold.

[markjohnson]

Speak of the devil......I just checked the 'Bay and there happens to be one currently on there. Check it out.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Vintage-W...=item4aa511d34e (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Vintage-Weiand-dual-quad-intake-chevy-gasser-hotrod-/320596988750?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories &amp;hash=item4aa511d34e)

[4onthefloor]

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab89/4onthefloor/S5000074.jpg-I have M/T valvecovers for a SBC-BBC-And a Pontiac V8-The SBC covers are #103R-50B they say &quot;JAPAN&quot;
The BBC covers are #103R-48B they say &quot;MADE IN JAPAN&quot;
The Pontiac are #140R-58B they say &quot;HOLLEY-MICKEY THOMPSON&quot; they are the only set I have that DONT SAY JAPAN OR MADE IN JAPAN ANYWHERE....I have a few more set's i will check ,but I figure these part#'s should help anyone looking for a set on ebay...I think these are &quot;DAY2&quot; and the Most Popular valve covers made,but there are others that are Period correct-I went with a EARLY set of &quot;CORVETTE&quot; aluminum valvecovers with the line that goes thru the &quot;O&quot;-I use em because they are RARE &amp;have no holes in them at all..Also I made my SBC look like a EARLY 'Vette Engine..

[TDW]

I have 2 sets of the early Corvette ones that have the line through the &quot;o&quot;. One set is still in the factory box.

[al8apex]

the &quot;rare&quot; ones are the early castings that did not have the line ...

[Fast67VelleN2O]

Agreed. You could get the covers with the line in them NOS until the late 1990's through GM.

[4onthefloor]

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab89/4onthefloor/S5000214.jpg
Here are the 'vette valve covers-I know for a fact these came off a Early Real Corvette,I always thought these had a &quot;line&quot; going thru the O,but I could be wrong -Here's a pic of them Rare or not I havent seen any on A 1967 Firebird <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif

[John Brown]

Covers that had the casting flaw that made the line through the &quot;O&quot; came on assembly line Corvettes around 1967. Before that the covers didn't have that line.

[sixbrl440]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Polished-...=item3a5f1c3f2a (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Polished-BBC-Chevrolet-Cal-Custom-Valve-Covers-396-402-/250703789866?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories &amp;hash=item3a5f1c3f2a)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cal-Custo...=item53e192d56b (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cal-Custom-BBC-Chevy-Tall-Finned-Aluminum-Valve-Covers-/360266782059?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories &amp;hash=item53e192d56b)

[markjohnson]

'Ya know.......that casting flaw in the Corvette valve covers is a very interesting story. I've heard that the aluminum foundry mold was broken and repaired. There's a lot of older, ex-Corvette Plant workers here in St. Louis with some neat stories. Anyway, these Corvette valve covers were cast several at a time like a sheet of stamps and it was deemed to expensive to repair the mold instead of making up a brand new very expensive new one.

[ORIGLS6]

I have a few sets of these, even the staggered hole versions (but sadly no 9 fin pieces). The last pair I bought direct from GM was probably in the mid 70s and only one of them had the casting line through the O. The few sets I've picked up in recent years all had the line.
I've heard the story about the crack in the mold, and also that the molds were sold to a foundry in Mexico. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif

[John Brown]

Here is a link to what some Corvette people have to say

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c1-and-c2-corvettes/2134931-are-my-valve-covers-original.html

The best way to search is to look for &quot;Lester Corvette valve covers&quot;. Lester must have been the casting company that made them. I sold a pair, new in the box, a couple of months ago for 175. They had Lester cast on the inside of the covers and the &quot;O&quot; that had the center mostly filled in. Evidently some of the earlier ones (around 1966 ? ) had the casting line but still had the open centered &quot;O&quot;.