69 BB Valve Cover Question
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,551
Likes: 10
From: Kulpmont PA
69 BB Valve Cover Question
The chrome on my BB valve covers is looking pretty tired..... I guess some would call it patina. Are there any markings on the valve covers that indicate if they are original? If they are original, are they worth rechroming? ... or should I just purchase replacements. Any recommendations on a replacement source for covers that match the original. I've seen prices that vary by a factor of 10.
Same questions for the air cleaner cover.
Same questions for the air cleaner cover.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,262
Likes: 283
From: I'd like to propose a toast... to internal combustion and wind in the face.
I believe there should be some "dimples" visible on the outside of the valve covers that indicate the "drippers" are in fact attached to the inside of the covers. If there are no drippers then you don't have original covers.
As far as replacements go, the price will be dictated by what you want.
Concerning the breather, is the car a 390 h.p. or 400 h.p.?
As far as replacements go, the price will be dictated by what you want.
Concerning the breather, is the car a 390 h.p. or 400 h.p.?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,079
Likes: 315
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I paid $130 to have my originals re-chromed locally. If yours are original dimpled covers with the internal drippers...they are worth a heck of a lot more than that.
If your air cleaner is original, it should have some silk-screening on the underside. If you re-chrome it, that will be lost.
These items were originally flash-chromed. If you want to duplicate the original look, don't go for triple-chrome plating.
If your air cleaner is original, it should have some silk-screening on the underside. If you re-chrome it, that will be lost.
These items were originally flash-chromed. If you want to duplicate the original look, don't go for triple-chrome plating.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,551
Likes: 10
From: Kulpmont PA
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,315
Likes: 4,418
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Roy,
If you decide to have your original parts re-chromed there's a very good plater near Harrisburg. Librandi's. They're in Middletown near the airport. I think that's fairly close to you.
They can talk to you about the differences in traditional chrome plating and the 'flash' chrome plating your valve cover and air cleaner lid are to see which you prefer.
Regards,
Alan
If you decide to have your original parts re-chromed there's a very good plater near Harrisburg. Librandi's. They're in Middletown near the airport. I think that's fairly close to you.
They can talk to you about the differences in traditional chrome plating and the 'flash' chrome plating your valve cover and air cleaner lid are to see which you prefer.
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,551
Likes: 10
From: Kulpmont PA
Thanks Alan - that's the place I had in mind, but it's always nice to get a recommendation from somebody who knows how to make a car look its best.
Is the ignition shielding done with flash chroming as well? If I'm getting some done under the hood, I need to do it all.
Is the ignition shielding done with flash chroming as well? If I'm getting some done under the hood, I need to do it all.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,315
Likes: 4,418
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Roy,
Yes, the distributor shield was flash chromed too.
Depending on how important originality is to you, you may want to check the prices of the repro parts. They're quite reasonably priced, but the chrome is TOO nice compared to the originals!
Regards,
Alan
Yes, the distributor shield was flash chromed too.
Depending on how important originality is to you, you may want to check the prices of the repro parts. They're quite reasonably priced, but the chrome is TOO nice compared to the originals!
Regards,
Alan
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
I have 2 sets of replacement chrome valve covers. I paid about $39 for a pair without drippers and $99 for the ones with drippers. They look good but certainly not close enough to original to be used for judging. I also haven't tried putting either pair on the 68 L-36 yet.
If I had original covers not sure what I would do. Replating is very expensive and very difficult to get it looking crappy enough to look factory original. You probably have to pay even more to get them to look crappy!
I guess I would leave the original ones alone and try out the $39 set to see how I liked the engine compartment with show chrome. (BTW, I think we have all wondered if the drippers are necessary to protect the engine, and I believe that with our engines they are not needed)
just remembered, I got 1 set, probably the $99 set, from Noahperformance. They have lots of inexpensive showchrome stuff, not always "exact" reproductions.
If I had original covers not sure what I would do. Replating is very expensive and very difficult to get it looking crappy enough to look factory original. You probably have to pay even more to get them to look crappy!
I guess I would leave the original ones alone and try out the $39 set to see how I liked the engine compartment with show chrome. (BTW, I think we have all wondered if the drippers are necessary to protect the engine, and I believe that with our engines they are not needed)just remembered, I got 1 set, probably the $99 set, from Noahperformance. They have lots of inexpensive showchrome stuff, not always "exact" reproductions.
Last edited by PRNDL; Aug 1, 2010 at 09:15 PM.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
I think it depends on what you're looking for...original parts and appearance or flawless appearance...you're not gonna get both.
To my way of thinking, if I'm gonna have something rechromed, I want it to look perfect or it's not worth doing. It would be far cheaper to buy the repro covers with drippers than pay for a crappy or great chrome job and save the originals.
Not to knock Mopars, but the Mopar guys are true lunatics when it comes to originality...far more than any Vette guy I've run across. To them, a proper restoration requires overspray where the factory painted it, mediocre fit and finish as the factory did, etc. If I'm paying big bucks for a restoration and paint job, I don't want to see overspray and poor fit and finish...it better be better than the factory did.
My rant...sorry.
To my way of thinking, if I'm gonna have something rechromed, I want it to look perfect or it's not worth doing. It would be far cheaper to buy the repro covers with drippers than pay for a crappy or great chrome job and save the originals.
Not to knock Mopars, but the Mopar guys are true lunatics when it comes to originality...far more than any Vette guy I've run across. To them, a proper restoration requires overspray where the factory painted it, mediocre fit and finish as the factory did, etc. If I'm paying big bucks for a restoration and paint job, I don't want to see overspray and poor fit and finish...it better be better than the factory did.
My rant...sorry.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,079
Likes: 315
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified