Vintage "corvette" finned valve covers ?

[c10seconds]

I found an old 53 willys with a chevy conversion that appears to had been done many many years ago. The valve covers looked cool to me but I have no idea if theyre rare or what they are worth. Anyone know about this stuff???

[doubleb's69]

They look like the later style. The earlier style has offset holes on the top side meaning that the top holes are around an inch farther towards the middle of the head. I don't know how rare they are but they sure are cool.

[Andy4639]

These are the ones I have.

[nc1967]

Yep Corvette valve covers. 1963-1967. If there is a line through the O in Corvette on the cover it will be a 67 valve cover.

[CG]

They are cool, but not worth a ton of money if that's what you were hoping. You can get em reproduction. Luckily they are the straight across style, the staggered will only work on early small block heads.

I have a few sets of both styles. I would say around the hundred buck area if the fins aren't damaged too badly. But then again you could get lucky and get more.

[doubleb's69]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

These are the ones I have.

Those are the covers I want. They are LT1 valve covers.

[Leonard1]

Originally Posted by doubleb's69

Those are the covers I want. They are LT1 valve covers.

They were also used on the '69 Z28 Camaros (w/ a 302)

[Gene]

Originally Posted by Leonard1

They were also used on the '69 Z28 Camaros (w/ a 302)

I have a set just like those that. I took off of a 76 vette. Are they the lt1 covers?
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[Leonard1]

Originally Posted by Gene

I have a set just like those that. I took off of a 76 vette. Are they the lt1 covers?
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Yes, they are '70-'72 LT1 valve covers, but they also came on the '69 DZ 302s, and on the '73-'74 L82 350s. I'm not sure which Corvettes used them originally.

[Gene]

Originally Posted by Leonard1

Yes, they are '70-'72 LT1 valve covers, but they also came on the '69 DZ 302s, and on the '73-'74 L82 350s. I'm not sure which Corvettes used them originally.

The vette that I removed them from was not a L82 vette. So either the engine was or they came off a LT1. Cool, I have them on my 71 truck motor now but they have been painted chevy orange, I need to have them blasted back to bare aluminum.

[jocko]

56 vettes with the 2x4 wcfbs had 9 fin covers as did all 57 vettes with any optional v8 up through mid-production year. On the th 57 fuelie vettes, the 9 fin vc's got notched to clear the air meter - the reason assumed to be the overall cause for switching to 7 fin covers (i.e. cost savings and commonality so they could use the same cover, regardless of fuelie or carb'ed).

So, the 9 fin covers are somewhat rare - but mid-57 through late 60's small block vettes got the 7 fin cast valve cover.

Staggered bolt (i.e. the carb side of the vc had the bolts closer together were for all small blocks between 55 and early 59. After that, the bolts were aligned and fit late 59 thru 85 small blocks.

Though not rare (the 7 fin ones), they are desirable. A good set of the 59-85 valve covers can go for anywhere from $150 to $300+. An average pair, about $100. A painted set, $50-100. Gotta be careful with the medium used to blast them - or avoid blasting altogether if possible. Sanding ruins them. A popular option was to pant just the area between the fins the color of the engine (just like on old mickey thompson alum vc's back in the day).

The LT-1 covers are also very nice covers, just comes down to a matter of taste. You'll see the LT-1 covers polished up a lot more, and they look nice to dress up an engine. The Corvette script ones are perfect for a mid-60's look when they were prevalent. I have a few sets that I'm gonna pick & choose from to stick on my 66 when I get around to it (and rebuild the dual wcfb offy manifold I grabbed at Carlisle a few years back, but that's a future project!). On a 67-72, I'd think the LT-1 vc's would be a nice dress-up item and I like the script covers for anything from 55 to mid-60's. But beware the staggered holes at swap meets, quick way to blow $100 on something you can't use... (ask me how I know.. Live & learn!)

Again, the 9 fin covers ARE rare, and expensive, and only good for the 55-early 59 blocks, so most of the pre-ducktail vette guys have snatched them up along with the tri-five crowd that have managed to keep original heads on the cars.

I love em!

[hopped up]

Not too rare, but still cool valve covers
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[jocko]

btw, here is a GREAT thread by markeb01 regarding these valve covers and integrating a pcv system on these closed system valve covers. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=366830