Mid year valve covers, re-pop Vs original

[Steve Z.]

Is there a reliable way to tell the difference between re-pop 350hp valve covers and original 350hp valve covers ?
Thanks,
Steve

[Loren L.]

Re: Mid year valve covers, re-pop Vs original

Care to inform us what year car?

[Steve Z.]

Re: Mid year valve covers, re-pop Vs original

It's a '66................

[John D.]

Re: Mid year valve covers, re-pop Vs original

One clue is the "O" in Corvette where the crack in the die is got a lot uglier as years passed with a lot of flash and a closed up appearance.

[Donald H.]

Re: Mid year valve covers, re-pop Vs original

Very easy. Look carefully on the inside of the valve covers. The reproduction one are made by Paragon and you will find their PR logo inside

[Steve Z.]

Re: Mid year valve covers, re-pop Vs original

Here are pictures of valve covers I bought. They were represented as NOS. Line through the "O", part number on inside and the name " Lester"
What do you think ?

[Keith B.]

Re: Mid year valve covers, re-pop Vs original

those covers where available from GM for a long time. Paragon did get the tooling and molds to make them a while back and they have there logo on the inside

[Steve Z.]

Re: Mid year valve covers, re-pop Vs original

those covers where available from GM for a long time. Paragon did get the tooling and molds to make them a while back and they have there logo on the inside

So these would be NOS.............

[Leif A.]

Re: Mid year valve covers, re-pop Vs original

So these would be NOS.............

Could be Steve. A picture showing the complete interior of the valve cover would be good. Or, just take a good look inside and if you don't see the "PR" in the casting, then they're most likely originals or older over the counter units.

[Steve Z.]

Re: Mid year valve covers, re-pop Vs original

Could be Steve. A picture showing the complete interior of the valve cover would be good. Or, just take a good look inside and if you don't the the "PR" in the casting, then they're most likely originals or older over the counter units.

Leif,
I have looked at them with a magnifying glass and don't see any other marks of any kind. They did come in original GM boxes with original labels and correct part numbers.
Steve

[Darryl D.]

Re: Mid year valve covers, re-pop Vs original

So these would be NOS.............

I think that is a matter of interpretation. To me NOS would be the originals sitting on a shelf for 40 years or so and not the GM re-issue pieces that came after the original stock was depleted. If you have the original boxes they came in that will likely tell you what they are as the boxes (logo etc.) have changed over the years.

[Michael M.]

Re: Mid year valve covers, re-pop Vs original

Leif,
I have looked at them with a magnifying glass and don't see any other marks of any kind. They did come in original GM boxes with original labels and correct part numbers.
Steve

The Paragon Reproductions I've seen have a "PR" on the inside of the cover next to Lester. It's pretty easy to see if the cover is off.

[Donald H.]

Re: Mid year valve covers, re-pop Vs original

GIven that they don't have the PR logo inside, and came in GM boxes, then I would assume they are over the counter GM valve covers. So, are they New Old Stock (NOS-what ever that means) or simply over the counter replacements from some time prior to GM stopping production (and are these considered NOS?), who knows?

And does it really matter?

[John D.]

Re: Mid year valve covers, re-pop Vs original

Steve, I did not read all the replies. Your valve covers appear to be the real deal. Although I would might call your valve covers NOSR as the crack depression is extremely defined. Probably late purchases from Chevy. John

[John D.]

Re: Mid year valve covers, re-pop Vs original

To me the O in Corvette looks massaged to remove flash typical in a later reproduction..see post #4