Correct '67 small block steel valve covers?

[Garry B.]

The 1967 6th edition JG (page 102) is very emphatic that the steel valve covers on '67 small blocks have a very distinctive 10 to 12 degree slant on the ends and that if your car has the same steel valve cover only the ends are straight, they are C1 covers. I happen to have a nice set of both and am wondering if there is any reason that thinking has changed since the 6th edition was published? (I can't seem to choose my upload, so will have to go without a photo right now). I have to say that most of the nicely restored or "original" small block '67s that I see seem to have the straight end valve covers, but through many owners they could have been changed. Thanks.

[Greg H.]

Re: Correct '67 small block steel valve covers?

This is my 67 300 hp with the wrong oil pan.IMG_0092.jpg

[Richard M.]

Re: Correct '67 small block steel valve covers?

Garry,

About 5 years ago I recall a '67 300HP Base with C60 I had inspected. Quite original with some freshening up in some areas. Fun to look at.

Here are a few photos of the engine bay and valve cover images. The ends appear straight to me with no angle. I'm pretty sure they were originals. My records show a late Aug 1966 engine assembly vin range 018xx.

Does the guide discern running changes on the valve cover configurations? Maybe a early/late thing? Greg's appear to have the slant you're speaking of? I never knew about this "feature".

But now that I look more closely at the Pass side cover angle in the first photo, I'm now unsure.

Rich

P8160040.jpgP8160039.jpgP8160042.jpg

[Garry B.]

Re: Correct '67 small block steel valve covers?

Greg and Rich, thanks for the photos and they show the essence of my questions. The ones on my 48K mile 300hp look more like the ones Rich posted, yet the text in the 6th edition is stated very definitively. It states and shows a photo of ones like Gregs. Rich, I am hopeful that there is some additional information out there that would indicate a design change and when those changes took place during the production run as you suggested, but I don't have later versions of the JG to refer to. I can't swear that the valve covers on my '67 with February 1 build date are original to the car for obvious reasons. There appears to be three versions of these steel valve covers; these two and the C1 versions that is clearly straight up and down. Any other information out there?

[Greg H.]

Re: Correct '67 small block steel valve covers?

My build date was the 3rd week in Feb 1967. I will add some additional photos tomorrow.

[Philip T.]

Re: Correct '67 small block steel valve covers?

1967 Marina Blue Corvette Engine Compartment.jpg
Here's a photo of the engine compartment from my very original 60,000-mile '67. Its build date was February 21st. Not sure if this helps the discussion but figured I'd at least try.

[Garry B.]

Re: Correct '67 small block steel valve covers?

Philip, thanks for the additional photos. Would you possibly be able to get a lower side view angle of the valve covers of either the front or rear that shows the angle of the ends a little better? Yours are clearly slanted, but I can't tell by how much. Great to see so many original 327/300's out there.

[Philip T.]

Re: Correct '67 small block steel valve covers?

1967 Corvette Valve Cover #3.jpg1967 Corvette Valve Cover #2.jpg
Garry - I'm at work so I'm unable to take any new photos, but I had the attached pictures in my document file and thought that they might be better than nothing.

[Garry B.]

Re: Correct '67 small block steel valve covers?

Thanks Philip. I am trying to get several side views because that is the only way I am able to see the degree of the slant at each end. If you have a chance to take a few over the next few days that would be great. This is certainly not a time sensitive issue, but I do want to be sure to put the correct on my car. Thanks.

[Greg H.]

Re: Correct '67 small block steel valve covers?

Hi Garry,
I wanted to make a full scale profile plot from my profile gauge but I was unable to get the full height so this is the best I am going to be able to send you. The angle looks to be 25 degrees? This profile dose also match the newer C-4 type valve covers. My car is a C60 AC, K19 Smog and the build date was not February as I indicated. The correct month was mid March.

IMG_0201.jpgIMG_0187.jpgIMG_0185.jpgIMG_0193.jpgIMG_0194.jpgIMG_0197.jpg

[Garry B.]

Re: Correct '67 small block steel valve covers?

Greg, you have gone beyond the call of duty on this one. Both yours and others shown are within the production range of my engine assembly date of January 18th and car assembly on February 1. Rich and Philips don't look as angled as yours, but may just be the angle of the camera. Maybe we will see some additional views from Philip.

[Mike E.]

Re: Correct '67 small block steel valve covers?

Here's the best I can do--car is on a lift for the winter. It is a May car.
Engine compartment (5).jpgEngine compartment (6).jpgEngine compartment (4).jpgEngine compartment (7).jpg

[Garry B.]

Re: Correct '67 small block steel valve covers?

Thanks Mike. I appreciate the effort considering the weather you guys are having. Yours look more like the set I have on mine right now. They don't look to have the degree of slant of some of the others which is the genesis of my initial post. Not sure we will ever be able to definitively conclude this, but it is interesting.

[Phillip M.]

Re: Correct '67 small block steel valve covers?

Thanks Mike. I appreciate the effort considering the weather you guys are having. Yours look more like the set I have on mine right now. They don't look to have the degree of slant of some of the others which is the genesis of my initial post. Not sure we will ever be able to definitively conclude this, but it is interesting.

I went through this issue 14 years ago when I bought my '67 300 HP car. Had aluminum Corvette covers installed when I bought it. Long story-short, either covers are angled or not - no (OEM), steel covers of various angles up until '67.

[Garry B.]

Re: Correct '67 small block steel valve covers?

Philip, I appreciate your comments. I am not quite clear on what is meant by your last sentence though, "Long story-short, either covers are angled or not - no (OEM), steel covers of various angles up until '67". Can you simplify your statement for me please? Thanks.