Which 300HP decal is correct?

[John R.]

---

I have a very early 66 300 HP car.3rd produce. I ordered these decals and they sent me 2 different decals. They should be the same correct??? Also I believe that the MADE IN THE USA was a later decal in 66??? I believe that the other decal should be correct for my car considering it was built in 9/65.Could someone verify the correct decal? Should they be metal decals or paper to be 100% correct? TY
IMG_4393.jpg

[John R.]

---

I have a very early 66 300 HP car.3rd produce. I ordered these decals and they sent me 2 different decals. They should be the same correct??? Also I believe that the MADE IN THE USA was a later decal in 66??? I believe that the other decal should be correct for my car considering it was built in 9/65.Could someone verify the correct decal? Should they be metal decals or paper to be 100% correct? TY
IMG_4393.jpg

I meant to say PRINTED IN THE USA

[Gary B.]

John,

There is quite bit of discussion in the archives about the absence or presence of “PRINTED in U.S.A.” or “PRINTED IN USA” on HP decals for valve covers. I suggest you read those postings yourself and make your own conclusions. But I will tell you my conclusion, which is the ones with “PRINTED …” are newer replacements, and the only kind that is readily available. And the ones without the “PRINTED…” text predate those. But others may not agree with me.

Noland Adams’ book has a number of photos of valve cover HP decals. Some images in his book show decals with “PRINTED …” and some lack that text. Virtually all of the clear photos in his book are of new, unused decals. My suspicion is some of those decals in his book were acquired after the 1960s. I don’t believe there is a single, 1960s vintage photo in his book of a 1963-67 on the production line that shows a valve cover in a sufficient close-up to see if the “PRINTED…” text is there or not.

The one certainty is that the decals must be the water transfer type, not the ones with the peel off backing which exposes an adhesive. The peel-off ones are thicker and detectably different than the water transfer decals. Knowledgeable judges will look for that difference.

If you’re going to apply water transfer decals, I suggest using a setting solution in addition to water. I used Walthers Solvaset and it worked very well.

Gary

[John R.]

Gary,I was able to save the old paper thin 300Hp decals.There is no stick um left. So these are PAPER and do not have the PRINTED IN U.S.A which are no longer available.I wonder if I can glue these back on.Will the Walthers Solvaset be enough to hold them on the valve cover? The 2 on the right are the ones I pulled off before I painted the valve covers. They came off pretty good.

[Gary B.]

John,

Are you sure your old ones are paper?

The Walthers is only for water transfer decals, e.g., like the ones used on model planes, cars, etc.

Gary

[John R.]

Yes Gary. Paper thin.You can see how they are curled up on the edges? Maybe original? IMG_4397 2.jpg

[Gary B.]

John,

Water transfer decals are ~25 microns thick. Self-adhesive stickers are ~100 microns thick. When I hear “paper thin”, I think of the self-adhesive type. Old paper ones will curl up, as will water transfer decals, so that doesn’t narrow it down.

Gary

25 microns is about 0.001”. And 100 microns is about 0.004”, which is close to the thickness of photocopy paper. If you have a digital caliper, you should be able to determine which type you have.

[Larry E.]

FWIW; The one I used is "Micro Set">Micro Set slightly softens the decal film to make it more flexible so that it will conform better to the model's surface. Better adhesion of the decal to the model prevents tiny air bubbles from forming and results in an invisible carrier film for the so-called 'painted on look. ' Don't know anything for sure about Walthers. AFAIK> There
is no glue in the setting solutions itself. Larry

[Gary B.]

John,

If you have the paper type with the self-adhesive and you plan to reuse them, you can find new ones on eBay without the PRINTED IN U.S.A text: eBay item number:376209719620. Just be prepared to have a judge tell you they are not 100% correct because of the material & thickness.

If the paper ones are currently made w/o the PRINTED text, I don’t know why the equivalent water transfer ones can’t also be made. But no one seems to currently make the correct ones.

Gary

[Patrick H.]

If the paper ones are currently made w/o the PRINTED text, I don’t know why the equivalent water transfer ones can’t also be made. But no one seems to currently make the correct ones.

Gary

A quick Google search shows how to make them at home with an ink jet or laser printer, including how to do it with a gold colored background.
So, it's possible. It appears that no one has yet taken the time to do so, or have any commercially made.

[Gary B.]

Patrick,

There are also companies that advertise of the web that custom make water transfer decals, presumably from artwork provided by the end user. Not ideal for the non-tech savvy, but someone could start a hobby business selling correct valve cover decals.

Gary

[Patrick H.]

Patrick,

but someone could start a hobby business selling correct valve cover decals.

Gary

I suspect that one could.
🤣🤣🤣

However, it's not a money making one.

[Jack M.]

I've searched many images... books, magazines, pilot line, GM... but that decal text is in a bad location.
This image, from a Dec 1962 Car Life magazine road test, might not be very helpful... you decide.
I've attempted to remove the halftone pattern of dots, and zoom into the decal area...
Itz not definitive, but I don't see any 'artifacts', from any text under the 300HP.
(NOTE: This 1963 Corvette was likely an early pilot line vehicle.)
Car Life (Dec 1962).jpg

[Jack M.]

300HP water transfer decals WITHOUT the added text, can be purchased via eBay: CLICK HERE