L88 questions

[Jeffrey S.]

Hello all. A good friend of mine recently purchased a '69 L88 and is preparing for Flight Judging at the Mich Chapter meet in June. We started going over the car this afternoon and are currently working through the mechanical section. I have 3 questions: 1. He has 2 chrome oil filler caps. One has the "S" logo stamped in the rivet. The second has this logo plus an "SMC" logo stamped in as well. The judging guide makes no reference to this second stamping and it says all caps for '69 are the same (except for some being chromed). My known original cap from my '69 small block has only the "S" on the rivet (and some other wording as well) but no SMC. What would be correct for his car?
2. The spark plug wire clips (brackets) attached to the valve covers have a plastic piece attached that holds the wires. The manual suggests that there was some black coating like on other wire clips rather that an attached hard plastic. Any thoughts? 3. The engine suffix code label on the back of the passenger side valve cover is white with dark orange letters ("IT"). the manual says this label should be yellow with black letters. Did L88's use a different tag? We know that this is not an original label as the valve covers are reproductions (the chrome is way too nice). Thanks for any help you can give.
Jeff

[Terry M.]

Re: L88 questions

I'll take the easy one. The chrome cap with two logos on it is a known reproduction. The one with the single S, may or may not be original to the car, but that depends on the shape of the rivet on the underside (should be more square shape than round) and the color of the gasket material. There was a story in The Restorer about chrome oil fill caps during my term as editor.

I think I know the answer to the rest, but rather than stick parts of my anatomy out in public it will be more fun to see the BB guys go at it. I hope to learn something from them.

[Mark #28455]

Re: L88 questions

The oil fill cap with the S on the rivet is correct - BUT - the Stant corporation has made a service part which fits Chevrolet engines, is chromed, and has an S rivet but the stamped cap with ears has an extra circular bend. Hard to explain, but obviously different when you look at it.

As far as I know, all 1969 chrome valve covers had attached (spot welded) sheet metal stands to hold the spark plug wires. These stands all used a black plastic loom that was a tight friction fit.

Mark

[Mark D.]

Re: L88 questions

The spark plug bracket you are referring to is only on the passenger side outer attaching points of the valve cover and routes the two most forward plug wires. This is a different bracket than the wire looms on top of the valve covers. Paragon has it in an exact reproduction.

The suffix label should be, most likely, yellow/black. I have never seen an original white/red (or orange) label. That is not to say they were never that way originally, it is simply that I, or the other folks I've judged with, have never seen proof that they were ever produced in anything but yellow/black. The L88s would not differ from other 69s except for the lettering.

Regards,

Mark

[William L.]

Mark how's the BEAST

and the kids
Bill Lacy

[Mark D.]

Re: Mark how's the BEAST

Hi Bill,

Everybody is doing great. The Beast is in San Antonio and I'm playing Mr. Mom.

See you guys soon!

Mark

[Patrick H.]

Re: L88 questions

Mark,

Never say never.

See original below.
I have heard of others in white/red, and I know that there is at least one in reproduction that is white/red.

Jeff, if you could e-mail me a photo of that suffix sticker I would REALLY appreciate it.

Patrick

[Mark D.]

Re: L88 questions

Hello Doctor,

As I said, I've never seen an original one. I've seen the white/red on very low mile legit cars, but, they turned out to be reproductions. How do you know that label is original to that valve cover? I trust your judgement and knowledge as much as anyone's, so, if you say you know that label is legit then that's good enough for me. I remember Dobbins was reproducing the white/red ones and he was convinced that color combo existed. Is the low mile blue 68 in CA still in possesion of its original label? Were there two suppliers of that decal? Was the production of that decal so intense that one supplier couldn't keep up?:-) Did they run out of black and yellow ink? (again, a joke).

Thanks again for the JJ labels and AC decals. They look great.

Regards,

Mark

[Patrick H.]

Re: L88 questions

Mark,

If I recall correctly, this was a valve cover set on eBay a while back. Allegedly taken off a car 30 years ago, and he was selling the covers. I scammed the pic.

Note that they are two separate letter decals, one narrow one for the "O" on top of a "normal sized" one that probably was "L_". Who knows. But, based on the known original stickers in my file, the pictured one is dead nuts on. If anyone repro'ed it, they did a stellar job, much better than I'd ever expect (from anyone else, that is). I could not afford the price the covers went for, but it did cross my mind to buy them just for the sticker.

I've seen an alleged red-on-yellow 1970 big block, but only one.

The L-88s were so uncommon, that I don't know that I would go with "yellow and black only" for them given the occasional white-and-red story.

Dobbins was playing with these cars long before you and I, or almost any of us for that matter. I should ask him in August which ones he saw, and if he has pictures around.

Patrick

[Mark D.]

Re: L88 questions

I value Dobbins opinion just as I do yours. I would be interested to hear his take on it. On the valve cover in the PIC, it looks to be pretty well worn. If it is as worn as it appears, I would doubt that water soluble decal would even still be there. Maybe it was removed early on and left outside, then I know the decal would disappear. Maybe it was just removed before the auction occured, but, which known car did it come off of?

Again, I would really like to see the money shot, a real car with the label still in place and absolutely known to have never been replaced. That car may very well be out there and then, like many times before, I would learn something new.

Regards,

Mark

[Mark #28455]

didn't that cover also have

Didn't that e-bay valve cover also have an unusual decal on the top side that said something like 430 HP or L88?

Mark

[Joe L.]

Re: L88 questions

Patrick----

Yes, I believe that some engines did use the "red-on-white" valve cover labels. In fact, some time ago I saw a photo taken of engines in the engine bays at St. Louis. I don't know what year the photo was taken but there were big block engines in the photo so it had to be 1965 or later. Although the photo was black and white, some of the engines in the photo obviously had labels that were "some color-on-white". I don't recall where I saw the photo, though.

In Jeff's case, since the valve covers are, apparently, non-original (i.e. they have show chrome plating), the labels obviously could not be originals. However, that does not mean that "red-on-white" labels were not used.

[Steve B.]

Re: L88 questions *NM*

[Steve B.]

Re: L88 questions

Here is a pic of my LO label. It has definetly been on there a very long time but I am not 100% sure that it is original to the car. I know of another low milage car that has a white/red label also. My car has always been a second car and never used in the elements. The motor has never been out of the car and still runs great!

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: L88 questions

I thank you all for your responses. I'm sure the label is a reproduction, and made by Dobbins, since this was his car at one time. Patrick- if the owner will give me permission to send you a picture I will but knowing this is a repro, would this be of value? I'm sure to have more questions as we get further into the inspection. So far we spent most of yesterday aftyernoon and didn't finish the mechanical section. Thank you all very much!
Jeff