Crate Engine weird valve covers

[Montierth]

I just bought a new 350/290 SBC engine from Radley to put in my 70 GMC. I know it's not the latest and greatest but neither is my truck. Also the price was good for what I got. So far it all looks really good and getting excited to get it installed. I bought the kit that came with Edelbrock intake, HEI and dressup kit. I sprayed it chevy orange and am taking my time putting it all together. So here is my question:
What are the 4 brackets used for that are spot welded onto the valve covers? You can see them in the photo and in all of the stock photos of the stock 350s. Do wire looms of some sort attach on there? Let me know. Thanks

[Redneck Rydes]

Back in the 70s, they ran wire looms across the valve covers for alternater,starter,a/c, carb wiring etc,if your not running a wire harness like that, remove and get you some real nice covers.

[special-K]

Yep, they gave you later valve covers with brackets for engine harness

[Montierth]

I thought that may have been what they were for but I havent seen any photos of the wire looms. I like the old school look. Where would I find the correct wire looms? Btw I had another 70 c10 with an original 350 with same valve covers but they did not have the brackets like this crate engine has.

[mike16]

corvette parts vendors for mid 70's vette parts. they also sell 60's era finned aluminum valve covers too. if your not diggin the loomey look

[special-K]

These trucks never ran this type. We're talking about square body years. Your harness won't allow running wires using the looms.

[Montierth]

OK that makes sense. Only thing I could find that I'm guessing would work was something like this.
However I have not seen anyone with them installed. I have a chevy orange dressup kit but the writing looks too modern.

[ho70]

Found this

[saxart]

When I bought my truck, the worn out engine in it had those brackets. (non original engine) The crate engine I replaced it with a year ago was the same one you got so it had them as well. I didn't care for them, so I ground the brackets off the old valve covers, cleaned them up, and installed. (Excuse the wires everywhere, this pic was taken before that was cleaned up)

[Montierth]

Saxart - that looks really cool. The ugly brackets are a dead giveaway of a crate. I really like the smaller oldschool looking valve covers. Can you tell where the spot welds were? Cant see them in the picture..

[saxart]

Originally Posted by Montierth

Saxart - that looks really cool. The ugly brackets are a dead giveaway of a crate. I really like the smaller oldschool looking valve covers. Can you tell where the spot welds were? Cant see them in the picture..

The spot welds were under the ends of each bracket. There was some slight rippling in the valve covers from those original welds. That was why I added the "Invader 350" decals. Technically only correct on a GMC, the decals trick your eye into not noticing that any work was done to the valve covers and give the engine bay a 70's vibe.

[special-K]

I never ran them, but I think these type valve covers make a nice clean way to run plug wires. Looks cleaner than most aftermarket looms. And they are pure GM! They are the exact same valve covers as earlier and the wires themselves pretty much hide how they are mounted. Are we looking at two different types of plug wire mounting tabs here? I'm saying the type shown in the motor installed look very clean and tight

[Warrens69GMC]

Some of the GM engines used this style of hold down clip

https://www.amazon.com/Wire-Routing-.../dp/B0040D0PJ4

[Montierth]

Originally Posted by Warrens69GMC

Some of the GM engines used this style of hold down clip

https://www.amazon.com/Wire-Routing-.../dp/B0040D0PJ4

Now those are ugly! Funny how when I started this project I was just interested in having a reliable engine that ran. Now I'm worried about brackets and how it looks.
This engine is going in a 1970 GMC. I didn't know about the "invader 350". I think I'm going to have to order some stickers!

[brown7373]

I cleaned up and repainted my original valve covers and replaced the ones that came on the crate engine. It is very hard to tell that my 350/290 is not the original engine.