Valve Coves
12-17-2018, 04:20 PM
#41
Drifting
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BH
12-17-2018, 04:36 PM
#42
Team Owner
. I happen to live near a station that sells 93 octane ethanol free. I burn that whenever possible, but sometimes run just high test at regular ethanol station.
12-17-2018, 06:45 PM
#43
Race Director
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If you are going to upgrade you engine the very best thing you can do is switch to aftermarket Aluminum heads. I have them on my 57 383 stroker engine with true 11 to 1 compression and can run it on 87 ethanol free gas without detonation. The aluminum heads dissipate the heat much better which is key. They also flow much better than porting your original heads and will give you much more power.
12-17-2018, 07:20 PM
#44
Melting Slicks
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Paragon sells both flawed and un-flawed covers. A '66 should have flawed ones, which is great, 'cause they're much cheaper. Paragon starts with flawed ones, produced off of the original cracked dies. They then put a lot of hand labor into getting rid of the aluminum "flash" defect, to make "un-flawed" ones, the expensive hand labor raises the cost.
Mike
Mike
12-17-2018, 08:27 PM
#45
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Paragon sells both flawed and un-flawed covers. A '66 should have flawed ones, which is great, 'cause they're much cheaper. Paragon starts with flawed ones, produced off of the original cracked dies. They then put a lot of hand labor into getting rid of the aluminum "flash" defect, to make "un-flawed" ones, the expensive hand labor raises the cost.
Mike
Mike
In High School Metal Shop I sand cast copies of the Thunderbird valve covers, and after a bit of hand filing, wire brush, and rogue wheel work they didn't look too bad. The new Corvette script covers in raw form look worse than my High School efforts.
You would think that with today's 3D Printers someone could make a modern copy of the female no-flaw cover molds to cast production mold plugs for new covers. I think it would be more difficult to reproduce molds and plugs for the period correct flaw, rather than clean cover molds and plugs with no flaw.
Has the US abandoned the technology to make sand casting of small production runs economical, or has it been regulated out of business?
12-17-2018, 08:39 PM
#46
Team Owner
Paragon sells both flawed and un-flawed covers. A '66 should have flawed ones, which is great, 'cause they're much cheaper. Paragon starts with flawed ones, produced off of the original cracked dies. They then put a lot of hand labor into getting rid of the aluminum "flash" defect, to make "un-flawed" ones, the expensive hand labor raises the cost.
Mike
Mike
12-17-2018, 10:08 PM
#47
Melting Slicks
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In High School Metal Shop I sand cast copies of the Thunderbird valve covers, and after a bit of hand filing, wire brush, and rogue wheel work they didn't look too bad. The new Corvette script covers in raw form look worse than my High School efforts.
You would think that with today's 3D Printers someone could make a modern copy of the female no-flaw cover molds to cast production mold plugs for new covers. I think it would be more difficult to reproduce molds and plugs for the period correct flaw, rather than clean cover molds and plugs with no flaw.
Has the US abandoned the technology to make sand casting of small production runs economical, or has it been regulated out of business?
You would think that with today's 3D Printers someone could make a modern copy of the female no-flaw cover molds to cast production mold plugs for new covers. I think it would be more difficult to reproduce molds and plugs for the period correct flaw, rather than clean cover molds and plugs with no flaw.
Has the US abandoned the technology to make sand casting of small production runs economical, or has it been regulated out of business?
12-17-2018, 10:31 PM
#48
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The 3D printing would be for the female molds. The actual mold plugs that look like the covers would be foam or wax displaced by the cast aluminum in the green sand.
12-17-2018, 10:50 PM
#49
Team Owner
12-18-2018, 08:40 AM
#50
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Cheers,
Richard
12-18-2018, 09:13 AM
#52
Melting Slicks
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Must have been havoc at St. Louis, as it is my understanding that a shortage of 4-barrel carbs led to the brief period where big-block hoods and ‘65 Rochester Fuel Injection units (that finally made it out of the repair crib), were installed on cars that inadvertently also got left over un-flawed valve covers. Lucky for me, was able to recently get one of these original cars (at a premium price, of course) from one of our more trustworthy Corvette dealers.
12-18-2018, 09:28 AM
#53
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Must have been havoc at St. Louis, as it is my understanding that a shortage of 4-barrel carbs led to the brief period where big-block hoods and ‘65 Rochester Fuel Injection units (that finally made it out of the repair crib), were installed on cars that inadvertently also got left over un-flawed valve covers. Lucky for me, was able to recently get one of these original cars (at a premium price, of course) from one of our more trustworthy Corvette dealers.
I am certain I am going to find a VERY RARE something on my car to post about once I get it in hand. It will probably be a one-off combination super/turbo charger hidden in the A/C system that is only activated when the car is going in reverse and...but wait, I don't want to give away too much now.
Cheers,
Richard
12-18-2018, 10:29 AM
#55
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So, another stupid question: I bought a 327/300 '66. I LOVE the finned aluminium Corvette valve covers that did not come on my car from the factory. Since I am not interested in competition, what do people think of changing out the originals (if the bolt pattern works) with the aluminium ones? I would keep the painted ones, of course, but I just happen to like the look of the others.
Is this a totally bonehead move or considered OK as long as I know the difference and keep the factory ones cleaned up and stored away?
Cheers,
Richard
Is this a totally bonehead move or considered OK as long as I know the difference and keep the factory ones cleaned up and stored away?
Cheers,
Richard
12-18-2018, 10:37 AM
#56
Melting Slicks
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Last edited by Vettrocious; 12-18-2018 at 10:39 AM.
12-18-2018, 10:41 AM
#57
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Of course, I’ve been known to illegally add a big block hood and leather seat covers from time to time according to my rap sheet.Now if I could only bring myself to install that Vintage Air Kit.
12-18-2018, 10:48 AM
#59
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The straight bolt absent the "flaw" are getting harder to find, but they're out there.
I was finally able to find a pair in Ohio. Talked to the guy and he told me he's had them for decades, as they were removed from a friends Father's '63 Corvette.
It took a bit of patience, but I was finally able to get them.
In your case, since they were not original to the car, purchasing the "flawed" or the "non-flawed" version should work. I think they make any engine look good.
Pat
I was finally able to find a pair in Ohio. Talked to the guy and he told me he's had them for decades, as they were removed from a friends Father's '63 Corvette.
It took a bit of patience, but I was finally able to get them.
In your case, since they were not original to the car, purchasing the "flawed" or the "non-flawed" version should work. I think they make any engine look good.
Pat
