1967, L89 Aluminum heads: painted or natural finish?

[Kit D.]

Hello,

I've recently come across an interesting issue: I saw a '67 L89 coupe for sale with the heads painted chevy orange, just as if it was a standard, iron-head L71. It also has the chevy orange, painted valve covers. All (of course there's only 16 factory extant) the other pictures I've seen of '67 L89s have natural aluminum finish on the heads, sometimes with chrome valve covers, sometimes painted.

I know that Richard Prince, in his Covette 1968-1982 Restoration Guide, states that all heads, except aluminum heads, were painted orange. He also wrote that there may be some orange overspray on the heads, but the actual aluminum heads are not painted. This implies that at least the L89s came with painted valve covers. I know he's not specifically addressing 1967 model year, but it's the best I could find.

The photos of the car in question clearly show the regular overspray along the intake side and exhaust side, but you can clearly see that the front of the head is also completely painted in the picture showing the engine pad.

I thought this was interesting. My internet seach has not turned up a conclusive answer. The car is purported to have a tank sticker and earned 2 Top Flight awards, so I'm assuming that this was either an actual factory production technique, or the points deducted didn't knock it out of Top Flight status. I can't access my NCRS technical manuals since I am currently deployed to Afghanistan, any help is appreciated.

[Clem Z.]

Re: 1967, L89 Aluminum heads: painted or natural finish?

Hello,

I've recently come across an interesting issue: I saw a '67 L89 coupe for sale with the heads painted chevy orange, just as if it was a standard, iron-head L71. It also has the chevy orange, painted valve covers. All (of course there's only 16 factory extant) the other pictures I've seen of '67 L89s have natural aluminum finish on the heads, sometimes with chrome valve covers, sometimes painted.

I know that Richard Prince, in his Covette 1968-1982 Restoration Guide, states that all heads, except aluminum heads, were painted orange. He also wrote that there may be some orange overspray on the heads, but the actual aluminum heads are not painted. This implies that at least the L89s came with painted valve covers. I know he's not specifically addressing 1967 model year, but it's the best I could find.

The photos of the car in question clearly show the regular overspray along the intake side and exhaust side, but you can clearly see that the front of the head is also completely painted in the picture showing the engine pad.

I thought this was interesting. My internet seach has not turned up a conclusive answer. The car is purported to have a tank sticker and earned 2 Top Flight awards, so I'm assuming that this was either an actual factory production technique, or the points deducted didn't knock it out of Top Flight status. I can't access my NCRS technical manuals since I am currently deployed to Afghanistan, any help is appreciated.

i worked on harwood dormans 1967 silver L-89,bought at yenkos and the heads were not painted. it had chrome covers

[Dick W.]

Re: 1967, L89 Aluminum heads: painted or natural finish?

Hello,

I've recently come across an interesting issue: I saw a '67 L89 coupe for sale with the heads painted chevy orange, just as if it was a standard, iron-head L71. It also has the chevy orange, painted valve covers. All (of course there's only 16 factory extant) the other pictures I've seen of '67 L89s have natural aluminum finish on the heads, sometimes with chrome valve covers, sometimes painted.

I know that Richard Prince, in his Covette 1968-1982 Restoration Guide, states that all heads, except aluminum heads, were painted orange. He also wrote that there may be some orange overspray on the heads, but the actual aluminum heads are not painted. This implies that at least the L89s came with painted valve covers. I know he's not specifically addressing 1967 model year, but it's the best I could find.

The photos of the car in question clearly show the regular overspray along the intake side and exhaust side, but you can clearly see that the front of the head is also completely painted in the picture showing the engine pad.

I thought this was interesting. My internet seach has not turned up a conclusive answer. The car is purported to have a tank sticker and earned 2 Top Flight awards, so I'm assuming that this was either an actual factory production technique, or the points deducted didn't knock it out of Top Flight status. I can't access my NCRS technical manuals since I am currently deployed to Afghanistan, any help is appreciated.

Caveat Emptor on any hi po car like that. Not saying the car you are referring to is, but there are way more "L-89 and L/88 cars out there than Chevrolet built.

[Clem Z.]

Re: 1967, L89 Aluminum heads: painted or natural finish?

Caveat Emptor on any hi po car like that. Not saying the car you are referring to is, but there are way more "L-89 and L/88 cars out there than Chevrolet built.

harwood's car is real as it was ordered by him at yenkos. harwood showed me a article in a magazine about the car that some guy had restored it . i believe he was in maryland. i replaced the all valve springs and hardware as it still had the single spring with the flat wire wound damper and these springs were the ones that broke.

[Michael H.]

Re: 1967, L89 Aluminum heads: painted or natural finish?

I don't know about L89's but I know the heads and valve covers on at least one 67 L88 were painted orange. I think the parts book shows that chrome valve covers were to be used for 67 L88's and L89's but who knows if that occured all through the 67 model year.

[Wayne M.]

Re: 1967, L89 Aluminum heads: painted or natural finish?

Here's the Chev notification to the zones re L89, dated March 17, 1967. Calls for chrome valve covers (don't know what that implies for the L88's). They say orders may now be submitted.

Look at paragraph at the bottom of the letter. Seems that the "392" cast Al heads were now being serviced as of March 16th.



z

[Kit D.]

Re: 1967, L89 Aluminum heads: painted or natural finish?

i worked on harwood dormans 1967 silver L-89,bought at yenkos and the heads were not painted. it had chrome covers

Thank you, Mr. Clem. I appreciate that first-hand knowledge, there's nothing like it.

[Kit D.]

Re: 1967, L89 Aluminum heads: painted or natural finish?

Caveat Emptor on any hi po car like that. Not saying the car you are referring to is, but there are way more "L-89 and L/88 cars out there than Chevrolet built.

Mr. W-- Caveat Emptor, indeed. Authenticity of the car aside, I was just interested in what you NCRS gurus feel is the "correct" restoration treatment for the L89 heads. (Yes, I dream of someday owning an L89

Does anyone have their NCRS technical judging manual available for the book answer? I'm assuming it covers this? Kit

[Bob H.]

Re: 1967, L89 Aluminum heads: painted or natural finish?

Kit:

The one I saw years ago had chrome covers and the heads were not painted. Was supposedly original at the time. Thanks for your service and hope you get to return home soon.

Bob

[Joe L.]

Re: 1967, L89 Aluminum heads: painted or natural finish?

I don't know about L89's but I know the heads and valve covers on at least one 67 L88 were painted orange. I think the parts book shows that chrome valve covers were to be used for 67 L88's and L89's but who knows if that occured all through the 67 model year.

Michael------


The parts catalogs don't specify the chromed valve covers for L-88. The chromed valve covers are specified for 1967 SHP 427 with aluminum heads. This would be specific for the L-89. No mention is made for any special valve cover for the HD 427.

By the way, only two aluminum head big blocks ever used painted valve covers. These were 1967 L-88 and 1971 LS-6, a total of 208 cars ever built.

[Michael H.]

Re: 1967, L89 Aluminum heads: painted or natural finish?

Joe,

Yes, I just looked in a 69 printing of the parts book and you're right. The chrome cover is only listed for 67 427 w/Sp. H/Perf (w/aluminum head). Strange that it's also shown for the 66 427 w/Sp. H/Perf. ?? And no specific listing at all for 67 L88.

[Kit D.]

Re: 1967, L89 Aluminum heads: painted or natural finish?

Here's the Chev notification to the zones re L89, dated March 17, 1967. Calls for chrome valve covers (don't know what that implies for the L88's). They say orders may now be submitted.

Look at paragraph at the bottom of the letter. Seems that the "392" cast Al heads were now being serviced as of March 16th.



z

Dang it-- can't see the chevy letter you uploaded. Might be the gov't computer I'm on(?) Judging from your post, it sounds like the letter doesn't mention the finish on the heads.

[Kit D.]

Re: 1967, L89 Aluminum heads: painted or natural finish?

I like it. Evidence is pointing in favor of chrome valve covers. Joe, good info-thanks!

[Kit D.]

Re: 1967, L89 Aluminum heads: painted or natural finish?

Kit:

The one I saw years ago had chrome covers and the heads were not painted. Was supposedly original at the time. Thanks for your service and hope you get to return home soon.

Bob

Bob,

I agree with you--that's the way I've seen them, too.

I finally tracked down the engine suffix decoder online, the car in question is stamped "JE" which is for a L71. Which means the painted heads and valve covers are correct. Of course it also means that it's just another iron-head L71.

Get this--same dealer is advertising another L89 for sale, and guess what-- it has unpainted aluminum heads, chrome valve covers, and engine suffix is "IU" indicating a L89. (pictures were just recently posted.)

So it appears, despite the dealer rudely claiming otherwise, that the car in question is really just a L71.

All is right in my world again.

Bob, thanks for the kind words about my service-- I hope to be back home this Summer!

and thanks to everyone who contributed to helping out a soldier a long ways from home. Great site. Glad to be a Member, even if I don't own a Corvette (yet)!

Kit

[John H.]

Re: 1967, L89 Aluminum heads: painted or natural finish?

Does anyone have their NCRS technical judging manual available for the book answer? I'm assuming it covers this? Kit

Kit -

The '67 JG covers it - L-88 has painted heads and valve covers, L-89 has natural aluminum unpainted heads and chrome valve covers.