Aluminum valve covers with defect

[Ted K.]

I am putting aluminum valve covers on my base engine 62 Vette. I ordered valve covers without the flaw that goes through the O in Corvette. On the ones I received there is a small line in the cast adjacent to the O.
I was under the impression that the flaw was the result of a crack in the mold that developed in the mid 60's and that 62 valve covers had no seam or defect. Later valve covers with the defect actually had the O full of aluminum.
Question is did 62 valve covers have any cast line around the O or were they smooth throughout?
Ted

[John D.]

Re: Aluminum valve covers with defect

Ted, No flaw. Should be smooth.
Typically the seamed valve covers appear around March 66 or so. JD

[Steven B.]

Re: Aluminum valve covers with defect

Smooth, and I am sure you are aware the 250 HP base and 300 HP engines had stamped steel valve covers. The Al. look good on all engines.

[Richard T.]

Re: Aluminum valve covers with defect

A few years ago some vendors began selling the 66 and later valve covers that had the seam or flaw ground and polished out. In most all cases the modification is detectable. Most vendors added a caution note to the item description in the catalogs so buyers would know what they were getting.
If you want them to look correct it's best to find an original set. Rich