1972 LS-5 Valve cover

[Tom L.]

Good morning, hope all are enjoying the labor day weekend!!!

Does anyone have pics of known original valve covers for a '72 BB?? (Early build if possible) Searched the archives and there seem to be no pics of these posted. I'm searching for some and would like to have a refrence. Thanks!!!

[Tom L.]

Re: 1972 LS-5 Valve cover

OK, I guess I have no takers on the pics so I'll rephrase my question.

Can anyone describe the covers? Are there plug wire supports, drippers, etc... Thanks again!!

[D S.]

Re: 1972 LS-5 Valve cover

Sans a photo the 1970-1972 JG states that "Material was stamped steel, painted engine orange, with oil fill on the passenger side. Oil fill cap was hard black rubber with the word OIL on it. Covers have internal drippers, so there should be visible spot welds on the covers. They have no indentation on the passenger's side cover for air conditioning bracket, but the driver's side cover is angled at the back to clear a power brake booster. There is one bracket supporting four plug wires near the center rear of the cover. There are four individual retainers near the bottom edge of each valve cover. No Tonawanda Team decals. Fasteners will have a separate triangular retainer under them. All fasteners are painted on the engine when the valve covers were painted. Two different lengths (of screws) were used on radio equipped cars. The longer screws were unpainted and were for the braided wire shielding grounds."

[Joe L.]

Re: 1972 LS-5 Valve cover

OK, I guess I have no takers on the pics so I'll rephrase my question.

Can anyone describe the covers? Are there plug wire supports, drippers, etc... Thanks again!!

Lynn-----


I believe that David Crane's reproductions of these valve covers are perfect or, at least, near-perfect. You can see them at:

http://www.cranescorvettesupply.com/servlet/the-398/Corvette-Big-Block-Valve/Detail

[Kenneth T.]

Re: 1972 LS-5 Valve cover

Tom, I have to muddy the water here

As you know my car is the last day of production, July 15, 1971.

I know that some parts are carried over to the early cars of the new year.

I am posting pictures of my covers. I did not have the plug wire looms tacked to the covers. I do have one loom that is mounted to the passenger side on the #4 Cyl, bolted down with the 7/16" RW cap screw.

See attached pics for what it is worth, it depends on how early your BB Pewter car is...

Ken

[Kenneth T.]

Re: 1972 LS-5 Valve cover

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthread.php?t=87675

[Chris H.]

Re: 1972 LS-5 Valve cover

Lynn, here are some from a May '72 car. Chris

[Tom L.]

Re: 1972 LS-5 Valve cover

Muddy muddy muddy. Hope you garage isn't like that, we were thinking of you guys with Irene. Not sure how close you are to the water. A friend with a '64, '66 and an '84 had to evacuate his cars, good thing he did. hope all is well.

I saw pics of other cars from '72 that didn't have the wire looms but have the opportunity to buy some with them that have them. I'm pretty sure they are correct just want to be sure. See you soon.

Tom and Lynn

[Bill C.]

Re: 1972 LS-5 Valve cover

[Tom L.]

Re: 1972 LS-5 Valve cover

Bill, can't see your pic here, have to wait till I get home. Thanks.

Seems that the pics I've seen show no wire looms. Anyone know if A/C cars have the wire looms on them being that the pics I've seen are cars without A/C?

[Terry M.]

Re: 1972 LS-5 Valve cover

Lynn,
There can not be any difference with C60 or no-C60. Tonawanda installed the rocker arm covers, and St Louis did not remove them -- or there would be something in the C60 section of the AIM (in the A1 section in this case) to indicate that. If Tonawanda installed different rocker covers for AC there would be a different suffix code on the engines for that option (like there is for some small blocks in the mid-years).


If you can't follow that -- just trust me. The Mark IV rocker covers were the same in 1972 (and 1968-1972 for that matter) regardless of C60 or Power Brakes or any other option.

[Tom L.]

Re: 1972 LS-5 Valve cover

I believe you all but the attached picture confuses me. CPH is a 1972 broadcast code and the sticker looks authentic but the covers have spot welded wire looms on them. Any idea where these came from? thanks!!

[Tom L.]

Re: 1972 LS-5 Valve cover

Bill I'm at home and can see the pics, nice one's at that. Thanks a lot.

Is the drivers side wire support tack welded on the same as the one in thw picture I attached in the Word document? Can't see exactly from your pics. Thanks agian!

[Bill C.]

Re: 1972 LS-5 Valve cover

The driver side and passenger side have the loom spot welded to the cover.
on 72 only there is a loom spot welded to the top center/rear of the DVR side, just for one wire to attach to (#7).

the covers in your attachment are for 1971 and maybe late production 1970. There may be other uses, not sure. The two looms that are top, mid center are not correct for 1972 (99% sure).

[Joe L.]

Re: 1972 LS-5 Valve cover

Bill I'm at home and can see the pics, nice one's at that. Thanks a lot.

Is the drivers side wire support tack welded on the same as the one in thw picture I attached in the Word document? Can't see exactly from your pics. Thanks agian!

Lynn------


The "CPH" suffix code was used for both 1971 and 1972. However, the fact that the codes were the same for both years does not mean that the engine assemblies were identical. The engine codes and associated engine build configuration are specific to model years. So, a "CPH" engine configuration for 1971 is not necessarily the same for 1972.