1967 327-300 HP Steel Valve Covers?

[Rocco S.]

All,

I need the groups assistance in confirming the application for these small block "script" valve covers. I recently removed these from a 1967 Impala in a junk yard. They looked in good condition and only needed de-greasing, paint removal and glass beading before repainting. I bought these for resale or possibly wall art.

My initial research revealed that these may be a "one year only" valve covers. I also read the section on 1967 Corvette steel valve covers in the newest NCRS 1967 Judging Guide. It mentiones that the ends of the valve cover are "angled back about 10 degrees". All other versions are vertical.

It looked like the valve covers are angled. I really don't have a good way to measure the 10 degrees so I used a machinist's square. It appears the ends are angled back somewhat. I am looking for opinions if these are the correct 1967 327-300 HP Corvette valve covers. Were these valve covers also used on other 1967 Chevy models? I do not know if they were original to the car or may have been changed in the past.

If these are not the unique 1967 Corvette valve covers what year/models are these correct for?

Thank You,
Rocco Scotellaro
DSCN5283.jpgDSCN5284.jpg

[Joe L.]

Re: 1967 327-300 HP Steel Valve Covers?

All,

I need the groups assistance in confirming the application for these small block "script" valve covers. I recently removed these from a 1967 Impala in a junk yard. They looked in good condition and only needed de-greasing, paint removal and glass beading before repainting. I bought these for resale or possibly wall art.

My initial research revealed that these may be a "one year only" valve covers. I also read the section on 1967 Corvette steel valve covers in the newest NCRS 1967 Judging Guide. It mentiones that the ends of the valve cover are "angled back about 10 degrees". All other versions are vertical.

It looked like the valve covers are angled. I really don't have a good way to measure the 10 degrees so I used a machinist's square. It appears the ends are angled back somewhat. I am looking for opinions if these are the correct 1967 327-300 HP Corvette valve covers. Were these valve covers also used on other 1967 Chevy models? I do not know if they were original to the car or may have been changed in the past.

If these are not the unique 1967 Corvette valve covers what year/models are these correct for?

Thank You,
Rocco Scotellaro
[ATTACH=CONFIG]101950[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]101951[/ATTACH]

Rocco------


As far as 327 cid engines in passenger cars go, 1967 was the only year that this style valve cover was used. So, if you got these valve covers off of a 1967 Impala with 327, they are likely original to that car and are the same as those used for 1967 Corvettes with 300 HP engine.

These valve covers are also very similar to and SERVICE for 1959-61 Corvettes with stamped steel valve covers.

[Rocco S.]

Re: 1967 327-300 HP Steel Valve Covers?

Joe,

Thank you for the information. These covers appear to be original to the Impala. But I am not sure if the engine was a 327-2BBL or 283-2BBL. I would think both engines used the same valve covers. So it sounds like these are the "one year only" covers.

Also during my research I read somewhere that the 1961 low HP 283 Cu-in Corvettes used a similar "script" steel valve cover but had straight vertical ends. Can you confirm that?

[Wally A.]

Re: 1967 327-300 HP Steel Valve Covers?

Tooling would be more difficult to form a 90 degree strait wall on both ends, and i would say that you will find this valve cover to
be stamped from the same tooling, with the walls angled in a few degree's.Have you ever visually seen a set with thru vertical wall's
on both ends?

[Jim L.]

Re: 1967 327-300 HP Steel Valve Covers?

Joe,

Thank you for the information. These covers appear to be original to the Impala. But I am not sure if the engine was a 327-2BBL or 283-2BBL. I would think both engines used the same valve covers. So it sounds like these are the "one year only" covers.

Also during my research I read somewhere that the 1961 low HP 283 Cu-in Corvettes used a similar "script" steel valve cover but had straight vertical ends. Can you confirm that?

This is true and the usage of the steel valve covers wasn't limited to the '61 model year.

[David L.]

Re: 1967 327-300 HP Steel Valve Covers?

I found this photo of a pair of NOS 3772668 valve covers for L59-61 Chevrolets and Corvettes on eBay. According to Chevrolet Parts History for parts sold over the counter GM # 3772668 was replaced with 3850049 in July 1964.

According to my 1963 Parts catalog (Oct. 1962) GM # 3772668 is listed for the following:
59-63 ALL (283)
59-61 CORVETTE w/4BC
with the following description: "COVER UNIT, right or left (8 13/16 outer hole spacing)"

According to my 1964 Parts catalog (Oct. 1963) GM # 3850049 is listed for the following:
64 ALL (283)

According to my 1967 Parts catalog (July 1967) GM # 3850049 is listed for the following:
59-67 ALL (283)
59-61 CORVETTE w/4BC
65-66 Ser. 10 thru 30 (327)
67 PASS., CORVETTE (327)(exc. Sp. H/Per)
with the following description: "COVER UNIT, right or left (8 13/16 outer hole spacing)"

The 3772668 and 3850049 steel valve covers sold over the counter had the 2 tabs. Chevrolet did not service the steel valve covers without the tabs as the only difference is the 2 tabs.

I have always wondered what the difference was between the 3772668 and 3850049 valve covers. Does anyone know that the actual difference is?
Dave

[Joe R.]

Re: 1967 327-300 HP Steel Valve Covers?

To my eye, the valve covers in your photo do not appear to have the slanted ends that were used on the 1967 Corvette small block steel valve covers. The difference is quite obvious with the two types placed side by side, but harder to notice when looking at just one version.

I thought I had a photo on file, but I can't seem to find it. Tomorrow I will take a photo of a correct '67 Corvette valve cover and post it here. I will also measure the angle.

[Rocco S.]

Re: 1967 327-300 HP Steel Valve Covers?

Joe, Thank you for your comments. A photo of a known 1967 valve cover showing the angle would be great. If indeed the valve covers are non-'67 then they will become wall art.

[Joe R.]

Re: 1967 327-300 HP Steel Valve Covers?

Joe, Thank you for your comments. A photo of a known 1967 valve cover showing the angle would be great. If indeed the valve covers are non-'67 then they will become wall art.

Below are three photos of a 1967 Corvette small block steel valve cover. I don't have a sample of the earlier style that has a more vertical end, but the difference is very apparent in a side-by-side comparison.

The difference is harder to notice if the two valve covers are not side-by-side. In fact, a friend of mine with a C1 had an early version valve cover on the driver side of his engine, and a '67 version on the passenger side. He was not aware of the mis-match until I pointed it out to him.

The first photo is just an end view of the '67 version. The second photo shows that the measured angle from vertical is about 18 degrees.

The third photo is an attempt to use a carpenter's square to visually illustrate the angle, plus a small steel ruler (calibrated in tenths of an inch) to provide some sort of useful measurement. The small steel ruler is a half-inch wide, so it does not quite capture the full extent of the slope.

[Rocco S.]

Re: 1967 327-300 HP Steel Valve Covers?

Joe, Thank you for posting the photos. The angle on the 1967 cover is much greater than on my set. Thanks to everyone who responded.