gmc plaid valve covers

[jonzcustomshop]

how rare are these?
I got this shot off a ebay listing out of georgia.
I had heard that they were only on 63 gmc's?
Does anybody have any info on them?

I don't , and probably wont have a gmc V6, but a set of these would look real cool hanging in the garage.

[slepysal]

wow....

[leftcoast66]

that is freaking awesome, never heard nor seen, but damn that's freakin hilarious, I'd rock those...

[David Flores]

That's ****ing badass.

[DirtyLarry]

Those valve covers are VERY rare. Not sure what specific years they were used but to find them in that good of shape is almost a miracle.

I work with a retired GMC engineer that lives back in the Pontiac, MI area that was very involved with the old GMC V6 and V12 engines. It is fascinating to hear his stories of yesteryear. He is in his mid to late 60’s and can recite the section modulus frame specs of a 1965 C50 truck, compression ratio of a 478 V6, load bareing dynamics of a 70’s GMC motorhome, etc like it was still something in production yet today. His decades of experiance is a great asset our truck manufacturing company still yet today. Believe it or not he lives to work in the truck manufacturing world instead of working to live. Beleive me...he could buy all of us.

I have asked him about the plaid valve covers in the past and he said they were a promotional deal back then to promote the “Thriftiness” of the V6 engines over the common or inline 6 or V8. Plaid is often associated with Scottish and their thriftiness and GMC was playing that card to win consumers over with their V6 instead of the usual V8. That was back in the day when Chevrolet and GMC might as well been outright competitors like Chevrolet and Ford.

Good find…..I couldn’t find it on Ebay though???

Here is a little write up on them from Mr. Jolly’s 60 - 66 dedicated site. http://www.6066gmcguy.org/GMCplaid.htm

Jolly’s site is another great site that is worth supporting for those 60 -66 fans out there. I beleive Mr. Jolly is also a GM retiree. My coworker knows him and has visited with at his place out in Montana many moons ago.

[jonzcustomshop]

dirtylarry the listing # is 230222717125
the title is
62 63 chevy gmc parts truck original V6 motor engine

the truck itself is very rough.
the auction ends feb 20th at 1219 calif. time.

I am tempted to plaid my chevy valve covers, instead of chrome..

[jchav62]

Those are wild! We learn something new everyday, here...I love it...

[greg64]

As DirtyLarry said, they are quite rare and used only one year. Don't hang them on your wall; there are lots of guys on Jolly's forum that would love to have these on their restored V6s. In fact, I had tossed around the idea because my GMC originally came with the 305E. But, it is such a heavy piece (more than a big block) and parts are obviously harder to come by.

[kris's66lwb]

i have heard that all years had them from a guy that worked on the gmcs and they had a problem with the moters so they put plaid valve covers on em to id the ones that had this problem fixed

[baddawg65]

This might answer some questions. They were actually a special model called something like the scottsman or trademan GMC. The 305 is a kind of neat engine. They are half of a v-12 GMC. 702ci. The valve covers, exhaust and intake are all interchangable.
http://www.6066gmcguy.org/GMCplaid.htm

[502tripower]

Originally Posted by DirtyLarry

Those valve covers are VERY rare. Not sure what specific years they were used but to find them in that good of shape is almost a miracle.

I work with a retired GMC engineer that lives back in the Pontiac, MI area that was very involved with the old GMC V6 and V12 engines.

Here is a good pic of the V12. Two V6's put together.

[factorystock]

The GMC engineer answered the question correctly. The plaid valve covers were a promotional item on some of the new 305E series for the 1963 year only, to show its economy over the previous 305A, 305C and 305D series used from 60-62.The early series gained reputation for poor gas mileage, so GMC felt it needed to show that the 305E series was different. It was only a slight improvement, so the following year 1964, GMC decided to add the Chevy 230 straight 6 for the most economical pickup for the American market.

[DirtyLarry]

Originally Posted by 502tripower

Two V6's put together.

The V12 wasn’t quite as simple as 2 V6’s put together. The V12 was a once piece block, had 1 crank, 1 cam, 1 distributor, 4 cylinder heads, 4 exhaust manifolds and two intake manifolds. I have only seen one of those in person in my lifetime it is was one big greasy MOFO. It was in a medium duty dumptruck that was in my dads shop when I was a teenager. I remeber it sounded very odd when it ran.

[NF65Fleetside]

those are too cool! really dig'n them, definetly a good find for a collector. As for the V12, i feel sorry for that beast to have to breath through those puny carbs! hehehehehe

[ClassicAutoResto]

Those valve covers make you want to go play golf! They are pretty cool though. even though a little on the weird side.

[65stepside]

So are there any Chevy 1960-66 rarities that are out there like the plaid covers?

[kdrodworks316]

I got a set of those, got them in high school from the AG shop class about 17 years ago. any body want them?

[EyeH8the24]

they would be kool to own ! ...depending price

[kdrodworks316]

I will look for them in the morning and clean them up. If I can find them I will post a pic in the parts forum. pm me if anyone is intrested, I am easy and welcome trades

[sosa]

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[lolife99]

A really NICE set of those valve covers are worth between $200-$300.
I look for them all the time.

[duallyjams]

Originally Posted by sosa

i recently bought a F250 with a 478 in it i am trying to find out some infomation about the motor any bit helps you can hit me up on here or e-mail me at samuel adamsjager@hotmail.com

http://www.6066gmcguy.org/

[jbgroby]

Although I have them on my engine now, If I ever find myself in the nationals or a ACCA comp. I'll have to pull them and put on the spare set I have in the GMC red. I know they are not correct for the '60 model year but I bought them because they were rare AND looked too cool.

When kids ask how I painted them, I say with Plaid paint out of a spray can. A few buy it and a few just get a goofy look on thier face.

I also will have a set chromed just for the heck of it to "Hot Rod" a bit.

[jimmydean]

I love the plaid covers and have seen a few in person. I didn't know it was one year only, but I did hear it was a GMC only thing. I think they look awesome and would consider doing it to mine just for kicks.

[creep]

I have 2 pairs of plaids. One pair on the V6 that came out of my 63 and a pair I got off ebay for about $120. Hmmmm,if I could find a V12 somewhere...