C3 73 BB Valve Covers

[George W.]

I am looking for information (descriptions,reference material,pictures) that would show me the difference between 73 Vette BB valve covers and other BB valve covers. I have a set (did not come with my car) that are painted,no drippers,with one tall (at rear)and one short (at mid point)Plug wire holders on each. There is a PCV valve on the driver side cover along with two bend over wire clips on the intake side of the cover.(These are located about 1/3 and 2/3 along the length of the cover) The right side cover has a rubber oil fill plug in the center and a crankcase breather connected to the air cleaner. Any help with locating this information will be greatly appreciated.

[Joe L.]

Re: C3 73 BB Valve Covers

George-----

There were a large number of valve cover configurations used on Chevrolet big block engines during the 65-74 period. Your valve covers are definitely the 71-74 style covers inasmuch as they use the rubber oil fill plug. However, I don't think that they are the exact Corvette configuration. All Corvette big blocks from 1972 to 1974 used the same covers. The 72-74 Corvette valve covers did have the wire clips on the intake manifold side of the cover and, as I recall, did not have drippers. However, as I recall, the 72-74 Corvette big block configuration did not use the tall rear spark plug wire retainer "tower". I also believe that the Corvette valve covers had individual spark plug wire guides spot-welded to the exhaust manifold side of the covers. Although I could be incorrect on this point, my recollection is that they are 4 "L-shaped" brackets with a "cutout" for the plug wire.

Although I am certain that the covers that you have are from the 71-74 period, they may be a slight variation used on some other Chevrolet chassis. Of course, I could be incorrect about the rear "tall tower" and the individual spark plug wires clips. But, that's my recollection.

[Donald S.]

Re: C3 73 BB Valve Covers

George,

You may want to check out the Cranes Corvette web site. They reproduce the big block valve covers and have some basic descriptions of the different variations. http://www.cranescorvette.com/427_valve_covers.htm

Regards,
Don Smith #28087