59 Corvette Script valve covers

[John D.]

I have probably seen more Corvette valve covers that I care to remember.
A customer has an Apr-May 59 FI car. Besides bringing me the FI unit to restore he brought me the "original" valve covers from his car to do.

These 59 VC's are quite unique and I have never seen a pair like these before. Typical high script staggered hole. But there is a seam on them.
The seam is on the outside only. Seam in on the rounded part of the cover-not the fins or around the script area. Seam located exactly in the center as far as length goes and starts from the edge of the fin closest to the intake. It's a straight line. Very distinct. Same seam on both VC's. Seam is about 2-1/4" long.

The owner insists they came with the car but you've heard that before.
These are not repros. They are old grunchy original parts.

Today I told him they are not typical of the 1000's of VC's I have seen and when the car is judged he can expect that the nice judge will see the seam and call the part a service replacement and ding him for these covers.
The owner plans on having the car judged. Your thoughts please.

He is not extremely happy with my comments and I feel for him but.....
Has anyone ever seen 59 VC's with a seam?
Now you know that the March 66 and later VC's had a typical seam that went thru the letter "O" etc. But these '59's are not like that.
If only I could take a pic of them.
Thanks, JD

[Bruce B.]

Re: 59 Corvette Script valve covers

John,
Here are some pictures of a set of valve covers that I have that show the same seam, one side only, from the fin to the flange.
They look like someone blasted them so the surface is screwed up.
They have the Hoover logo and the 086 part number.
They were in the boxes pictured.
Other then this I have no other info other then they fit late 1959 or earlier SBC heads.

[John D.]

Re: 59 Corvette Script valve covers

John,
Here are some pictures of a set of valve covers that I have that show the same seam, one side only, from the fin to the flange.
They look like someone blasted them so the surface is screwed up.
They have the Hoover logo and the 086 part number.
They were in the boxes pictured.
Other then this I have no other info other then they fit late 1959 or earlier SBC heads.

Bruce, Thanks very much. The ones I have here are 100% identical.

Will these or those valve covers go thru flight judging without a deduct??? Thanks again. John
P.S. I just spotted the tiny Hoover sweeper logo on my customers VC's. You really have to look for it. Neat.

[Ernie F.]

Re: 59 Corvette Script valve covers

John,









Ernie

[Bruce B.]

Re: 59 Corvette Script valve covers

Ernie,
The picture of the box I posted is probably not the original box the valve covers came in. I checked 2 other sets I have and none of them have the flaw.

[Ernie F.]

Re: 59 Corvette Script valve covers

I'll check what I have and see if they look like yours. I've never seen a set like this that I can remember. At most some learned how to date a box. . . . Might keep someone from getting eBayed on a part.

E

[Richard T.]

Re: 59 Corvette Script valve covers

John,
I've seen these around from time to time and believe they are service replacement parts rather than factory installed. Rich