1972 aluminium valve covers & exhaust tips

[Jerome P.]

I recently had my '72 in an NCRS judging meet and the car did very well (96.9). However, a couple of Items I got dinged on are as follows:

1) Missing engine suffix code label on the back of the passenger side valve cover.
a) Does the aluminium LT1 value cover have this label and, if so, where can I get one?

2) The exhauast tips to the best of my knowledge are correct original exhaust tips for a 1972. The part numbers are 3974659 and 3974660, they are steel (not stainless steel) and they have weld beads in the middle of the bottom surface. However, It does not have a weld bead attaching the the rectangle portion to the flat back. As I read the TIM (page 100) this weld bead was eliminated in the mid 70's production year and therefore not there on the 72's Can anyone shed some light on this?

[Bill C.]

Re: 1972 aluminium valve covers & exhaust tips

For #1 -- Patrick Hulst (NCRS member)

For #2 -- Assembly line tips in 1972 had no GM part numbers stamped on the bottom. Also, the rectangular tip was not spot welded around the perimeter to the back section of the tip, it was welded at the rear seam all the way around.

A very hard tip to find NOS - best bet is to find a set of OK ones and send them to teh chrome shop for a redo. I did that with mine.

[D S.]

Re: 1972 aluminium valve covers & exhaust tips

Bill, according to the 1970-1972 JG it references First design and Second design exhaust tips with depictions shown. I have one pair that I had flash chromed that don't exactly fit the description of either designs and are not stainless steel. They have no welds around the perimeters of the rears but have welds down the centers of the undersides and the round pipes have the exact configurations as shown in the depictions in the JG. These do not have numbers stamped on the bottoms. Could it be that there was more than one supplier of exhaust tips like those radiator caps? What design do I have?

Thanks,
Scott

[Jerome P.]

Re: 1972 aluminium valve covers & exhaust tips

Scott, It sounds like your tips would match mine with the exception mine have the part number stamped on the bottom. If they are not 1972 tips, what year are they?

[D S.]

Re: 1972 aluminium valve covers & exhaust tips

Jerome, I now don't have any idea what those tips I have are. Steel, flash chromed, welds down seams on bottoms, spot welded around the perimeter near the rear, no numbers, correct pipes. Now, I do have one extra tip that is unrestored that has the weld around the back plate and on the seam on the bottom (Second design). I'm watching out for the other matching tip so I can pair them up to restore.
I spent the last twenty minutes trying to load photos here. When I figure that out I'll repost this. It's gotta be simple.

Thanks,
Scott

[Paul O.]

Re: 1972 aluminium valve covers & exhaust tips

Jerome I have seen about 4 different config's for the 70-72 tips. Original tips for 70 to early 71 had welded around the back of the tip after that all the rest were welded around the back and on the middle of the bottom. Anything other then that is over the counter service replacement.1. 1st design 70-early 71 welded around the back 2. 2nd design 71 thru 72 welded around the back and bottom middle 3. Over the counter welded on the bottom spot welded on the back 4. Same as above but with a W for Walker 5. After that the W and with a part numberOn some early 71 have seen both 1st and 2nd design on orignal cars. Also check the archives their is a board member that will make suffix code lable if you treat him right. If you dont want to do that you can make your own off the computer use a yellow lable and if I remember there is a diagram in the judging guide to help you may take several try's to get it right. Paul 18046