1967 Corvette Big Block Valve Cover Bolt Headmarkings

[Donald W.]

Hello All.....My question is what would be the correct type bolt head mark for the Valve Covers. I have found that there are 2-type manufacturers 1-with "TR" and the other with "RBW" Stamp. My 427/435 was Built in Oct, 1966 for the 1967 Model Year.

[Tom D.]

Re: 1967 Corvette Big Block Valve Cover Bolt Headmarkings

Do you have the NCRS guide for '67?

[Joe L.]

Re: 1967 Corvette Big Block Valve Cover Bolt Headmarkings

Hello All.....My question is what would be the correct type bolt head mark for the Valve Covers. I have found that there are 2-type manufacturers 1-with "TR" and the other with "RBW" Stamp. My 427/435 was Built in Oct, 1966 for the 1967 Model Year.

Donald------


There is no singularly correct manufacturer's headmarking for a fastener application that you describe. Many manufacturers supplied the kind of bolts involved here. The only way to know, for sure, what bolts were originally installed on your engine is to have the bolts that were originally installed. Of course, that's tough to ascertain if you have not had control of the car since day one. In any event, the "TR" and "RBW" bolts you do have are period-correct and among the headmarkings originally used.

[Donald W.]

Re: 1967 Corvette Big Block Valve Cover Bolt Headmarkings

Yes, I have the 4th Edition for 1967 NCRS Judging Manual. They note 5 different manufacturers that are acceptable to have on the engine.

[Donald W.]

Re: 1967 Corvette Big Block Valve Cover Bolt Headmarkings

Thanks Joe...NM.

[Rick G.]

Re: 1967 Corvette Big Block Valve Cover Bolt Headmarkings

Hi Donald,

I checked the valve cover bolts in my Oct 1966 assembled 435 hp today and found three different head markings. The majority are LE, followed by L5 and the remainder with no markings at all. Interestingly all the bolts have three distinct equally spaced raised lines. I am the second owner of this car and know it to have been worked on at the dealership shortly after it was new. As Joe said, there really is no way to determine what head markings are correct.

Rick

[Donald W.]

Re: 1967 Corvette Big Block Valve Cover Bolt Headmarkings

Thanks Rick....I was hoping to get some feedback from other 67 Big Block owners. I was also hoping to maybe find an individual that actually worked @ the Tonawanda Engine plant, but that was a long time ago. Joe is dead-on stating the fact that there is no way to tell what came on your car unless your the original owner.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1967 Corvette Big Block Valve Cover Bolt Headmarkings

Thanks Rick....I was hoping to get some feedback from other 67 Big Block owners. I was also hoping to maybe find an individual that actually worked @ the Tonawanda Engine plant, but that was a long time ago. Joe is dead-on stating the fact that there is no way to tell what came on your car unless your the original owner.

Donald------


If we can find a guy that worked at the Tonawanda engine plant back in the 60's and that guy can recall what the manufacturer's ID headmarks were on valve cover bolts installed on big blocks, that guy will be my hero forever.

[Joe R.]

Re: 1967 Corvette Big Block Valve Cover Bolt Headmarkings

Donald------


If we can find a guy that worked at the Tonawanda engine plant back in the 60's and that guy can recall what the manufacturer's ID headmarks were on valve cover bolts installed on big blocks, that guy will be my hero forever.

Joe,

Do you think it is possible that Tonawanda had just ONE supplier of bolts? I think not! Every assembly plant had multiple suppliers. There was not a chance that they would stop an assembly line that made money waiting for one supplier to ship bolts. Nah, they were making money and really didn't GAS what bolt went in that hole. After all they didn't even care about the NCRS when they were cranking out BB engines. Shame on them!!!!!!

JR

[Joe L.]

Re: 1967 Corvette Big Block Valve Cover Bolt Headmarkings

Joe,

Do you think it is possible that Tonawanda had just ONE supplier of bolts? I think not! Every assembly plant had multiple suppliers. There was not a chance that they would stop an assembly line that made money waiting for one supplier to ship bolts. Nah, they were making money and really didn't GAS what bolt went in that hole. After all they didn't even care about the NCRS when they were cranking out BB engines. Shame on them!!!!!!

JR

JR------


I have no doubt that Tonawanda used a variety of suppliers for bolts, as did other GM plants. I've been preaching that for years. That's also why I used the plural term "manufacturer's ID headmarks" in my previous post.

[Donald W.]

Re: 1967 Corvette Big Block Valve Cover Bolt Headmarkings

NCRS 4th Edition 1967 Judging Manual has 5 acceptable suppliers for that time period.

[Joe R.]

Re: 1967 Corvette Big Block Valve Cover Bolt Headmarkings

Oh, my bad!

JR

JR------


I have no doubt that Tonawanda used a variety of suppliers for bolts, as did other GM plants. I've been preaching that for years. That's also why I used the plural term "manufacturer's ID headmarks" in my previous post.