I am restoring a '63 and would appreciate anyone who can tell me the correct valve covers for the 327/340. Did they come with the seam separating the "o" in corvette or not? The '63 I have was built in July. Also, what are the correct bolts to use for these valve covers? Thanks.
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Re: '63 valve covers
Randy,
The casting flaw thru the O did not appear until middle to late in the 1966 model year. So you need the valve covers without the flaw.
Gary -
Re: '63 valve covers
Hi,
I have a '63 327/340.. The correct covers are the ones without the seams (seams were a 1965 event as I recall), which are fairly hard to come by in decent shape. I purchased a set for mine (had the ones with the seams) from Goat Hill out at Carlisle a couple of years back, for a pound of flesh. You can probably do better if you look around. They sometimes show up on E-Bay.
The correct fasteners are philips head screws which you can get from Corvette Paragon, they have them specifically for that purpose, and they are not expensive.
Good luck,
JoelComment
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Source for '63 valve covers > John DeGregory
Randy,
If you're looking for a pair of used or restored valve covers correct for your year, I suggest you contact John Degregory. John does a beautiful job restoring these valve covers and I believe he has a supply of used valve covers ready to restore or not and to sell outright. Bear in mind that the cost will not be cheap. The restoration alone runs over $150 includuing shipping both ways. Good donor covers without the seam are also not cheap.
GaryComment
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Re: Source for '63 valve covers > John DeGregory
Randy, I sent mine out to Jerry MacNeish (www.z28camaro.com) and he restored them and took the casting flaw out. Just let hime know what you want done. Great guy, does excellent work and fast turn around time. MikeComment
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Re: '63 valve covers
Randy, Your July 63 would use phillips screws. Not the hex head bolts. See CC's judging manual for the breakdown. My Feb 11th built engine has the phillips screws. My screws are not correct though. Aftermarket generic screws. I am looking for nice original ones. There is a difference in the configuration of the heads. Jorjorian told me this. Maybe he can post a nice pic of an original 63 phillips screw so we know what to look for.
Nice original 60 to about March 66 valve covers are very hard to find. Typically in the flea markets you end up buying two pairs just to get one nice set. Losing proposition for buying and selling them. Thanks, JohnComment
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Re: '63 valve covers
Correction: Randy I messed up. Early 63's used the screws and the later ones used the bolts. I always knew that but had a senior typing moment. Too bad we can't use the correction key. JohnComment
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Re: '63 valve covers
Thanks for the info. Can anyone direct me to a good source for the correct bolts?Comment
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Re: '63 valve covers
Many smelt seasons ago I ordered some of the screws from the General and as they were only sold in boxes of 100 so that is what I have. Always wondered if they were correct. I'd go look at them if anyone can tell me what I'm looking for. BTW my '63s are 300hp cars and didn't have Alum covers from the factory, but I didn't know someone had installed them after cars were produced. I think a lot of owners did that way back because they look better than steel covers....Regards FrankComment
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