BB Valve Covers

**Joe L.** · March 30, 2008, 09:52 PM

Re: BB Valve Covers

Originally posted by Kenneth Tozzi (48795)

I am looking at 71 painted valve covers. The driver's side has a dent, not the slope of a Power brake cover, just a bash in the corner. I have seen this before and believe it to be original. Comments please?

Kenneth-----

If you are talking about a "45 degree flattened" area toward the outside of the cover, I don't think that's original to a 1971. The rear of the left side valve cover for a 1971 big block had a more-or-less even 70 degree "slope" to the rear of the cover.

The "45 degree flattened" covers were last used in early 1969. Of course, these were chromed for 68-69, but earlier were similarly configured and painted.

**Kenneth T.** · March 30, 2008, 09:55 PM

Re: BB Valve Covers

Thanks Joe, saved me money right there!

**Mike M.** · March 30, 2008, 10:14 PM

Re: BB Valve Covers

Originally posted by Joe Lucia (12484)

Kenneth-----

If you are talking about a "45 degree flattened" area toward the outside of the cover, I don't think that's original to a 1971. The rear of the left side valve cover for a 1971 big block had a more-or-less even 70 degree "slope" to the rear of the cover.

The "45 degree flattened" covers were last used in early 1969. Of course, these were chromed for 68-69, but earlier were similarly configured and painted.

not all pre-68 valve covers were painted chevy orange(most were) but the l-89 were chrome plated.mike

**Joe L.** · March 31, 2008, 12:36 AM

Re: BB Valve Covers

Originally posted by Mike McCagh (14)

not all pre-68 valve covers were painted chevy orange(most were) but the l-89 were chrome plated.mike

Mike----

Absolutely. In fact, I have an NOS pair of the 1967 chromed valve covers for L-89 with K-19. The left side cover is, of course, the same as non K-19. The right side cover, though, has the bracket for the "mixture control valve". These have just about the worst chrome that I've ever seen on a GM engine part that was chromed. Actually, worse than the 68-70 chrome covers and those were no prize.

**Kenneth T.** · March 31, 2008, 06:12 AM

Re: BB Valve Covers

Joe, Mike....

Thanks. I wanted to clarify on point. We are talking about those used on a car Without power brakes. Is the same cover used in both applications?

I have seen many where the back is just like the front with no slant or indentation at all.

Ken

**D S.** · March 31, 2008, 06:47 AM

Re: BB Valve Covers

Were the 1970 Corvette LS-5 chrome valve covers the same with or without power brakes with the indent on the driver's side? Would that be the 70 degree slope? Any other unique characteristics on them?

Thanks,
Scott

**Terry M.** · March 31, 2008, 10:38 AM

Re: BB Valve Covers

Rocker arm covers were the same -- with or without power brakes. If they had been different there would be a different suffix code for the engine with power brakes. Look at the list of engine suffixes and you will not find power brakes listed -- that is the tell. The folks at Tonawanda (or Flint) didn't know, or care, that the engine was going into a Corvette with or without power brakes.

**Joe L.** · March 31, 2008, 01:18 PM

Re: BB Valve Covers

Originally posted by D Scott Sims (43568)

Were the 1970 Corvette LS-5 chrome valve covers the same with or without power brakes with the indent on the driver's side? Would that be the 70 degree slope? Any other unique characteristics on them?

Thanks,
Scott

Scott-----

ALL 1970 big block covers have the "70 degree" slope on the rear of the driver's side cover.

**Joe L.** · March 31, 2008, 01:26 PM

Re: BB Valve Covers

Originally posted by Kenneth Tozzi (48795)

Joe, Mike....

Thanks. I wanted to clarify on point. We are talking about those used on a car Without power brakes. Is the same cover used in both applications?

I have seen many where the back is just like the front with no slant or indentation at all.

Ken

Ken-----

If you see valve covers on any big block Corvette left side that "are the same on both ends", then a non-Corvette valve cover has been installed at some point. There were a myriad of different big block valve cover configurations used on 65-74 Chevrolet big block engines. Some differ in only minor ways; some differ in more significant ways.

As far as the LEFT SIDE REAR Corvette configuration, it was like this:

1965-E69----"45 degree" "smashed-in" corner

L1969-74-----"70 degree" slope.

The right side cover (the one with the oil filler) is more-or-less the same on both ends for all 65-74.