1973 valve covers

[Joe M.]

Does anyone have a pic of an original 1973 small block L-48 valve cover? Does the cover have two ridges running down the cover? Its also my understanding they have two brackets for holding the spark plug wires. If anyone has a pic, I would appreciate it.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1973 valve covers

Does anyone have a pic of an original 1973 small block L-48 valve cover? Does the cover have two ridges running down the cover? Its also my understanding they have two brackets for holding the spark plug wires. If anyone has a pic, I would appreciate it.

Joe-----


The valve covers would look very similar to the valve covers in the attached photo. I don't think there were any clips for spark plug wires. However, there were small clips on the top of the left side valve cover. You may barely be able to make out one of these on the right side valve cover in the photo. I think the 1973 configuration had 2 of these on the left side valve cover. I'm not 100% sure about the number and location of the clips, though.

It should not be difficult to find a set of these valve covers in a self-service wrecking yard. Just find any 1973 Chevrolet model with a small block V-8 engine. If it has its original valve covers, which is likely in most cases, you've found exactly what you seek.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1973 valve covers

It should not be difficult to find a set of these valve covers in a self-service wrecking yard. Just find any 1973 Chevrolet model with a small block V-8 engine. If it has its original valve covers, which is likely in most cases, you've found exactly what you seek.

I notice that the original poster is from Illinois. If he's from an area of IL that's anything like Michigan, the 1973 cars in the junkyards are long gone. In fact, the 1983 cars are long gone and 1993 is about as old as you might find something.

However, an engine rebuilder is also a good source as are swap meets.

[Edward J.]

Re: 1973 valve covers

Joe, I think the only difference from your pic. maybe the drivers side valve cover may have the rubber plug oil fill cap instead of the twist on style.

[Joe M.]

Re: 1973 valve covers


Joe

[Michael W.]

Re: 1973 valve covers

As Joe said, the two brackets on the drivers side cover do not hold spark plug wires. They simply hold the small beige wire going to the carb anti-diesel solenoid. The oil filler cap is a twist on metal type.

Here's a picture I found on the interweeb:

[Joe M.]

Re: 1973 valve covers

[Daniel K.]

Re: 1973 valve covers

I have a picture, (I can post later it you still need it. Or if you want to see them in person, I live in Ill.

[Harmon C.]

Re: 1973 valve covers

Notice the position of the brackets in the picture they are correct for a 73. Some covers have the same brackets but are closer together and not correct.

[Edward J.]

Re: 1973 valve covers

Lyle, does the 73 valve cover have the rubber oil fill cap, on did they change it back to the twist on?

[Daniel K.]

Re: 1973 valve covers

Ed, It is a orange panted twist type.

[Harmon C.]

Re: 1973 valve covers

Lyle, does the 73 valve cover have the rubber oil fill cap, on did they change it back to the twist on?

As others have said the oil cap is twist on with an S on the rivet.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1973 valve covers

Lyle, does the 73 valve cover have the rubber oil fill cap, on did they change it back to the twist on?

Edward------



For small blocks and big blocks, the oil filler cap changed to rubber push-in for the 1971 model year. For small blocks, the rubber filler plug continued until late in the 1972 model year. At that time it went back to twist-lock for both steel and aluminum valve covers, although the change-over might not have occurred at exactly the same time for both style covers. It remained with the twist-lock style for all subsequent C3 small blocks.

Big blocks remained with the rubber plug style filler cap from 1971 right through the end of big block usage in Corvettes in 1974.