Retro/ time era valve covers??
 

Im going to be putting an '84 350 in my truck soon. I plan to change the breather out with something not so big and bulky and looks stock for a '64. What options do I have for valve covers? My old parts '65 has a 283 with the original valve covers with the chevrolet script. Would those work, or is there something else I could buy that would be cool?

Re: Retro/ time era valve covers??
 

I'm a fan of the "finned" valve covers w/matching accessories! Guess thats obvious. Just my taste

Re: Retro/ time era valve covers??
 

I do like finned covers as well! But, I think with this truck I want a more factory.stock look. The finned are definately and option tho.....

Re: Retro/ time era valve covers??
 

i could be wrong but as long as the 84 motor isnt centerbolt valve covers the old stockers will fit. i think chevy went to centerbolt 86 and up?
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Re: Retro/ time era valve covers??
 

Do the stock 1965 283 valve covers have breathers on them?

Re: Retro/ time era valve covers??
 

Shoot, Hutch, That's a beautiful set-up.

Re: Retro/ time era valve covers??
 

or did they have a road draft breather located back by the distributer?
Got me wondering too..
Bob

Re: Retro/ time era valve covers??
 

Hey,
what kind of headers are on this beautiful engine?
Andy

Re: Retro/ time era valve covers??
 

I will go check my 283 and see. I dont think it has breather but cant remember. Maybe some could be added if they dont

Re: Retro/ time era valve covers??
 

If I aint mistaken.....which I sure might be,...
Wasn't the breather/filltube combo right next to the thermostat housing on the intake manifold.....?

Re: Retro/ time era valve covers??
 

Oil filler tube is near the thermo hsg as you mention.

On some older small blocks (with this fwd oil filler tube), the oil breather wasd built into the cap - on some it was not (was just a twisty on - but I think most trucks had the breather built into the cap).

The challenge (albeit a minor one) with mounting old valve covers on a newer engine is coming up with a workable PCV system. Had a long discussion with Markeb01 a while back and he's done a great job of putting a workable system on his truck while being able to use old vette valve covers.

My 2 cents, but hard to beat the old vette vc's. I'm just sayin... (a strong second is stock orange 327 vc's). I've got a setof vette covers ready to go on if I ever get around to my engine rebuild. Have a nasty leak in my oil pan too (stripped, THEN dented oil pan) so bought a somewhat matching cal custom aluminum ribbed unpolished oil pan to go with the whole rebuild. Goal is to look semi-stock with old vette and some common mod parts from, well, my childhood when i couldn't afford them! Have been piecing together an old vette dual quad get up and that will be the crowning touch. But, gotta get the trans in first!!! That's for another day.

Re: Retro/ time era valve covers??
 

The 283 covers have no breather holes. What would I have to do to make them work? I don't want to have to do alot of work to them, but if its not too bad it would be a fun project!

Re: Retro/ time era valve covers??
 

On my 283 I have it has the road draft tube routed into the intake with a pcv valve in between, with a breather oil filler cap on the filler.
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Re: Retro/ time era valve covers??
 

Take a peek at this thread, especially the 2nd post from Markeb01:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?p=4029350

This addresses the pcv question.

As for breathers - if you are gonna run an old manifold with the oil filler tube on it, you can use a breather cap for it.
If not though, then you can add a breather to the valve covers. Would be easy to drill a hole, add a grommet, and stick in a round breather - but it would really detract from the look of the vc.
In my opinion, which means nothing(!) I would recommend something like this for a breather - even on a painted orange steelie vc. These were the "back in the day" breathers:
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Offenh...ather,804.html

Sorry Scottveazie - your reply snuck in between J Cagle's and my reply to him. You outline what the stock set up is - my 283 in my 66 has exactly what you mention. For ref, J Cagle is looking to put in an '84 350 I believe.

Re: Retro/ time era valve covers??
 

That'd be perfect jocko. Now, I wonder if I can buy a set up like that so I dont have to try to make my own mounting block?

Re: Retro/ time era valve covers??
 

you could probably take that little design drawing to a machine shop and have it done up. Markeb01 made it a straightforward part.

Re: Retro/ time era valve covers??
 

wow jocko sounds like youve pretty much got this covered, i went through the same thing when i dropped a 78 350 in my 65, couldnt use the 283 covers because of the vents and the oil filler tube was a part of the intake, and if i remember right when i test fitted the 283 covers to the 350 i had an issue with them being too short and they were setting right on the rockers,

Re: Retro/ time era valve covers??
 

Do this make it wild.