1971 BB Valve Covers
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I have read in resto guides that roughly the first 1000 big block cars built had chrome valve covers.
My '71 LS5 was built in Aug. 1970, it has chrome covers, and they do seem to be original to the car. They're definitely not repros, but then again, someone could have picked them up at a swap meet and installed them before I got the car.
There is no Tonowanda sticker on the right one as in 1970, and that is as I've seen on supposedly all original cars in books/ads etc.
My '71 LS5 was built in Aug. 1970, it has chrome covers, and they do seem to be original to the car. They're definitely not repros, but then again, someone could have picked them up at a swap meet and installed them before I got the car.
There is no Tonowanda sticker on the right one as in 1970, and that is as I've seen on supposedly all original cars in books/ads etc.
Last edited by Bally; Jun 7, 2013 at 08:28 PM.
Melting Slicks
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I'd imagine toward the end of the era when chrome valve covers were used you may get a mix of chrome and painted. I recall hearing the area where engines were stored in the factory wasn't necessarily managed like a grocery store, inventory wasn't always rotated? Seems some old inventory could have been pushed to the rear, used after some of the newer inventory. Plausible?
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...my one friend had an original one owner '71 LS-5 coupe several years ago which got Bloomington Gold Survivor was a Dec 7, 1970 build date VIN was #3322 and had the flash chrome covers. I remember reading where it was said up to #4,000 VIN could have had the chrome covers. There may have been a time frame where both painted & chrome were used.