At junk yard today I found a set of what was refered to as spreader bars, that fit on the sides of steel valve covers. My question is did they ever come on corvettes from the factory? If so, were they painted orange? They have a number on them its 14082321, are these even GM? TIA...........Joe
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Re: Spreader bars
Joe-----
Yes, they are GM pieces. However, they were never originally used on a Corvette. By the time that these pieces "appeared on the scene", Corvette engines had pretty much gone to cast valve covers which do not use these reinforcements. About 1987, most small blocks went to center bolt style valve covers which don't use these, either.
1984-86 Camaros and passenger cars with 305 V-8 engines were among those that did use the GM #14082321 reinforcements. Other GM cars which used the 305 engine during this period used them, too.In Appreciation of John Hinckley -
Re: Spreader bars
Joe,
Wasn't a similar reinf used on old Corvairs? Seems I remember Mr Gasket selling reinf's in the late 60's or early 70's that were actually chrome plated Corvair parts. Skin packaged, of course.Comment
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Re: Spreader bars
Michael-----
Yes, similar reinforcements were used for Corvair. The reinforcement used for 62-63 was GM #3812800. This reinforcement was 1-3/16" long. For 64+, this was replaced by GM #3850874. I believe this was longer, but I don't have a dimension on it. The 3850874 replaced the 3812800 for SERVICE in late 1964.
The GM #3850874, which had only the Corvair application, is still available in SERVICE from GM. It's got to be one of the very few Corvair parts which remain available from GM. Likely, the reason for this part's "survival" is the widespread aftermarket use for it. For many years, these reinforcements were retrofitted to small block valve covers by owners to help improve sealing and reduce leaks.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: Spreader bars
Most Chevrolet F5000 engine builders in the seventies used on Corvair pieces on the valve covers.
DukeComment
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Re: Spreader bars
Thanks for the numbers Joe. Good friend down the street has a 64 (turbo) Vair so I'll look/measure the length of his reinforcements. Will be interesting to see if his car has the first design or second as it was assembled 1st week of production.
I knew GM sold these things by the carload in the 60's and 70's to racers. Every speed shop had them.
As Duke mentioned, it seemed they were standard equipment on most F5000 cars. The Lola that we were building/rebuilding in the 70's had them.
Also, if I remember correctly, most of the comp engines that went out of Motor Sport Research left with reinf's.Comment
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