Bb Valve Cover Question
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 755
Likes: 1
From: Hobart Tasmania
Bb Valve Cover Question
I recently bought a set of used original valve covers for my '72 BB.
Had them blasted ready to paint and am in the process of some small dent removals. My questions please are the covers correct for my '72 car.
The drivers side cover has a small bracket spot welded to the outer side about 1/4 the way along from the firewall end. It is not the spark plug wire bracket.
The drivers side cover has two brackets spot welded on the inner side towards each end and one on the outer side in the middle. In addition there is a crude dent in the rear of the drivers side cover on the outer edge. I have read somewhere that this may be to clear the power brake booster, but the dent looks a little crude.
For advice please.
Had them blasted ready to paint and am in the process of some small dent removals. My questions please are the covers correct for my '72 car.
The drivers side cover has a small bracket spot welded to the outer side about 1/4 the way along from the firewall end. It is not the spark plug wire bracket.
The drivers side cover has two brackets spot welded on the inner side towards each end and one on the outer side in the middle. In addition there is a crude dent in the rear of the drivers side cover on the outer edge. I have read somewhere that this may be to clear the power brake booster, but the dent looks a little crude.
For advice please.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
Those inner spot welds are for the interior oil drippers. Their dimples show on the outside of the cover.
The crushed corner looked crude from the factory. That was for the left side valve cover to clear the master cylinder/brake booster on '65-'67 C2 cars. They may be correct on some C3's...early ones anyway. My '69 427/435 doesn't have the dent in the left valve cover.
It sounds like you have a set of early big block valve covers. They will certainly work on your '72, but probably aren't truly correct for it.
The crushed corner looked crude from the factory. That was for the left side valve cover to clear the master cylinder/brake booster on '65-'67 C2 cars. They may be correct on some C3's...early ones anyway. My '69 427/435 doesn't have the dent in the left valve cover.
It sounds like you have a set of early big block valve covers. They will certainly work on your '72, but probably aren't truly correct for it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
I believe the internal drippers were standard on all big block valve covers. If you look at photos of any contemporary big block engine, I think you'll see the dimples on the covers indicating the spot welds for the drippers.
I believe if you find a set of valve covers without the clearance dent, and are orange, there's likely no way you can tell the difference what year they came from. '68-'69 covers were chromed...after that they came orange, though I've seen where some say very early '70's still had chrome.
I believe if you find a set of valve covers without the clearance dent, and are orange, there's likely no way you can tell the difference what year they came from. '68-'69 covers were chromed...after that they came orange, though I've seen where some say very early '70's still had chrome.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
Chris, the dent at the rear of the left valve cover is for clearance of the power brake booster as previously mentioned. It is correct for a 72. The same valve covers are used on both power brake and non-power brake cars.
From the Corvette 1968-1982 Restoration Guide:
"...the 1972 covers each have one bracket welded toward the middle rear that holds a four wire plastic loom. In addition, 1972-only valve covers have four single wire retainers welded along the bottom edge".
So far, I have not seen any that match this description.
cc
From the Corvette 1968-1982 Restoration Guide:
"...the 1972 covers each have one bracket welded toward the middle rear that holds a four wire plastic loom. In addition, 1972-only valve covers have four single wire retainers welded along the bottom edge".
So far, I have not seen any that match this description.
cc
Last edited by CCrane65; Mar 24, 2007 at 03:34 PM.
