Valve Cover

[Jeff G.]

I'm new to the NCRS family. I have a 69 big block and the motor seems correct including pad and cast numbers. I noticed the oil cap on the driver side valve cover instead of the passenger side. Any thoughts?

[Kent K.]

Re: Valve Cover

sounds like someone put them on opposite sides.
Kent #6201

[Jeff G.]

Re: Valve Cover

That occurred to me but I was fooled by the PCV and PVC gasket installed on the drivers side. Since you're helpful, I have most of the original Witek clamps here (some dated 1/69) and some are very corroded. I want to save them but should I be removing the plating while restoring? Saw these originals goin for big bucks on Ebay....

[Mark #28455]

both valve covers have the PCV/breather hole

The PCV/breather hole is in the same place on both valve covers. the Pass side has the oil fill hole as well and the ends are both square. The correct Driver side cover does not have an oil fill hole, and the rear of the valve cover has a different shape from the Pass side in that it is meant to give clearance for power brakes (I know, the Corvette power brakes are nowhere near the cover ).

To correctly restore the clamps, you would most likely need to use an acid bath to remove the old zinc and corrosion, then replate them. The repros are probably good enough to pass (what do others think?) I would not pay top $$$ for NOS clamps.

Mark

[Salvatore I.]

Re: both valve covers have the PCV/breather hole

I am in sticker shock! I priced a set of correct, chrome valve covers for a 1969 427 and almost needed CPR! They are selling for $500..and this is NOT on eBay.....

Does anyone know a source that is a bit more reasonable? Thanks for the advice...

[Mike E.]

Re: Valve Cover

Welcome to the family--glad to have you as a part of us!!!!!
I fully understand your wanting to keep/reuse original clamps and parts. That means you already have some comprehension about the "Preservation and restoration" of Corvettes.
You might want to check yesterday's posts--there was conversation about ridrust, which apparently would do wonders with the clamps and other parts.

[Chuck S.]

Re: both valve covers have the PCV/breather hole

Mark, stripping and replating is about the only option for clamps too oxidized or corroded to be cleaned up and re-used "as-is", but be advised...zinc plating is not the original finish on the clamps. A good judge should make minimum deduct for a plated clamp finish...close inspection will show the originals were fabricated from galvanized stock and they can't really be "restored" unless you can galvanize the bands. I would try to find a means to clean the clamps to new condition without stripping the galvanizing. (0000 steel wool? Dilute phosphoric acid cleaning?)

To me, dated originals, replated or not, are still more desireable than repros or "high dollar" NOS clamps without dates.

[Phil P.]

cranescorvettes in diego claim his will judge *NM*

[Joe L.]

Re: both valve covers have the PCV/breather hole

Sal-----

If you want "as-correct-as-possible" reproduction valve covers for a 1969 big block, then there's only 1 game in town------Cranes Corvettes of San Diego. Regardless of where you buy them, this is the "manufacturing source". Plus, if you want the correct configuration for the rear left side cover, Cranes is still the only game in town.

If strict originality is not all that important to you, then there are other options. One of these options are the "foreign sourced" (Taiwan) reproduction covers. These covers are not "exact-in-every-way" sort of things. For one thing, they do not have a configuration available which mimics the L68-69 Corvette rear left cover configuration. They do have the 65-E68 rear left cover or the non PB clearance configuration covers used on many other Chevrolet cars (and, very usable on 68-74 Corvettes which don't really need the specially configured left side valve cover, anyway, even if they have power brakes).

Regardless of what David Crane says, these covers are EXCELLENT. They are the same gauge material as the original covers, the stampings are SUPERB (FAR, FAR better than original GM covers and, consequently, another "incorrect" feature and they're better than the Crane stampings, too). There are no die marks, wrinkles, etc. due to worn or poor tooling; just FLAWLESS stampings. The chrome is FAR, FAR better than original GM since these covers are triple chrome plated rather than flash chrome. Put one of these covers next to even an NOS GM cover, and the GM cover looks like junk and I mean REAL JUNK.

You can get these covers with or without drippers, too. What's the cost? About $40 per SET.

So, it's all about how original that you want to be.

[Salvatore I.]

Re: both valve covers have the PCV/breather hole

Joe

Thanks again for the great advice....what is the contact number or web address for Crane's? I ran a search in Google and it did not come up...

Thanks for the guidance....

Sal

[Joe L.]

Re: both valve covers have the PCV/breather hole

Sal-----

It's as shown below.

http://www.cranescorvette.com

[Joe L.]

Addendum

Sal----

One thing to keep in mind is this: while David Crane does manufacture these valve covers, David has been known to be "not-so-quick-on-the-draw" when it comes to getting orders shipped. I think he means well, but I think that his life has too many "distractions" (some of these "distractions" are pictured on his web-site). So, if you decide to go with the Crane reproductions, you might want to actually order them from a dealer like Dr. Rebuild, Paragon, etc. that stocks his valve covers. That way, they get to deal with the sometimes foibles of ordering from David and you don't. Generally, the price is about the same no matter who you buy them from.