old valve covers?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: just South of the Zoo Michigan
old valve covers?
I recently purchased a C4 and have been posting/reading a lot here. I don't know where the correct place to post this is, so I am doing it here. I have no problem with someone moving it to a better fitting location.
When I was a kid, 50's and 60's, I saw corvette valve covers appeared to be aluminium and said corvette on them and had ridges running the length of the valve cover. I have no idea what years they were used so that is the first question.
Second, I have a 350cid motor out of a 1985 half ton pickup that I intend to put into a street rod. does anyone know if those valve covers will fit on the 350cid?
Thanks,
J D
When I was a kid, 50's and 60's, I saw corvette valve covers appeared to be aluminium and said corvette on them and had ridges running the length of the valve cover. I have no idea what years they were used so that is the first question.
Second, I have a 350cid motor out of a 1985 half ton pickup that I intend to put into a street rod. does anyone know if those valve covers will fit on the 350cid?
Thanks,
J D
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 764
i'm not 100% sure, but I'm thinking that corvette script valve covers first appeared in 1956, and continued to 1967. there was a perimeter bolt pattern change in there somewhere, but I don't know the exact year - i'm thinking maybe around 1959. as far as fitting your 1985, can't say for sure - they MAY fit, but you will not have provisions for PCV and most important, the oil fill port. anything's possible, but modifying those aluminum script VC for you 85 would be more trouble that their worth, and most likely open a can of worms. best thing you can do is obtain a correct set for your application. there is a company out there that makes "center bolt" corvette script VC for 86L to 1991 corvettes, but now we're talking center bolt vs perimeter bolt - apples and oranges. several members have them, and I must admit, they look great.
Last edited by Joe C; Sep 3, 2014 at 05:11 AM.
Drifting
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,336
Likes: 15
From: Mechanicsburg PA
Central PA Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,218
Likes: 117
From: San Antonio Texas
An old Hot Rod buddy of mine told me that even the perimeter bolt hole valve covers changed patterns. Some had the holes directly across from each other and others had the top holes offset from the bottom holes. Just can't remember the years they changed patterns.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 10
From: That one city...you know that one. Idaho
From my experience the small block perimeter bolt valve covers never changed pattern. I think some of the olds or Pontiac engines had a similar valve cover with a different bolt pattern.
Racer
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 293
Likes: 4
The very old sbc/vette valve covers did have a weird offset on the top set? of bolts before they went to the perimeter style they used till 85.
A guy I used to work for had one in his office hanging on the wall.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1261045...rs-for-265-cid
A guy I used to work for had one in his office hanging on the wall.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1261045...rs-for-265-cid
Last edited by TTOP350; Sep 4, 2014 at 08:55 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 10,375
Likes: 3,386
From: Central TX
C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
1955-57 were offset. 1958 went to straight-across bolt pattern.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,939
Likes: 1
From: Vero Beach Florida
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Correct.