71 BB vavle covers

[Ed L.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

Tom, I checkout your pics. nice work! nice car!

[Ed L.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

got the original valve covers on your 71 Tom? Got a pic? Thanks, Ed

[Monte M.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

Ed,
I can send you the pictures of the ones I just sold if you want me to.
Monte

[Ed L.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

thanks...Ed...

[Monte M.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers



Ed, I am not sure if you wanted the picture or not. If so, here is one. If you want the rest, send me a PM with your e-mail address and I will send you the rest.

Also, I think I have another set lined up.

[Ed L.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

Monte, Thanks for pic. Mine look just like these but in flash chrome. I am not sure what I should do as they are in need of re-chrome. Should I paint, chrome, or what? I think I will chrome as I like better than paint but also thinking should they be flash chrome or a more heavy, shiny chrome that most of us like? I got to think about it a little but any thoughts are welcome.

[Monte M.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

Ed,
If you go back in this thread, some of the people who know these cars inside out, did not think your covers even existed. A part of the original thread was determining their existence. I knew they existed because I have a number of pair. The picture earlier in the thread with the "Note" on it is a car I had years ago.
The valve covers you have are very common.
Personally,, have the chrome stripped off by a chrome shop and paint them, is what I would do.
Originals are expensive and re-pops are $385.00. I sold mine for less than that. I do not like gouging people just because they need a part.
Hope that helps. Let me know if there is anything else I can do.
Monte

[Monte M.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

Ed,
To tell the truth, there are a few differences in your chrome covers and the original painted cover that came on your car. I think it is just a small tab that has to be removed. Run the chrome covers, after stripping and paint. If you run across an original set of 71 BB covers, buy them and put them on your car. Until then, I dought anyone would even know they were not originals.
I will double check the differences and get back to you on what they are. I have another set of 71 covers here to compare them to. They do have a home.
Monte

[Ed L.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

thanks again. Found out through this forum that the engine in my car is correct for car and yr. but is a warranty replacement. Not sure if they used the same covers on the replacement engines as the originals?

[Ed L.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

Dear Monte, Did yours have rubber plug or metal filler cap? My covers have a rubber plug from when I got car 12 yrs ago. but have the opening for metal cap. They certainly have been in the car for many yrs. There is some rust on them and are quite dull now. I think I prefer chrome so that is what I will do. They have the drippers so does that make them GM/Corvette correct?

[Ed L.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

Monte, I just took another look. the only difference i see between my covers and the pair you posted is that on mine the oil fill hole is designed for a twist on cap rather than a plug. I have not tried a twist cap on it yet though. I do not know what this difference means. Could mine be 70 BB covers? thanks, Ed

[Ed L.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

I thought of another question but I assume the answer is no. Are there any marks or code stamps on GM covers to let you know what yr and model they are for?

[Patrick B.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

Ed-----

I think you will find that the first character is a "C" and not an "O". If so, the engine is a "CE" series warranty replacement engine once installed in the car. The "CPH" suffix indicates it is a correct 1971 LS-5 engine, though.

I've never heard of a CE block with engine ID suffix letters. Joe, do you know of other engines stamped this way? Ed, could you post of photo of your engine's stamp pad with this unusual code?

[Joe L.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

I've never heard of a CE block with engine ID suffix letters. Joe, do you know of other engines stamped this way? Ed, could you post of photo of your engine's stamp pad with this unusual code?

Patrick------


I agree. I've never seen a "CE" engine with a suffix code, either. However, I can't explain the rest of the stamping unless it's a "CE" engine. A photo of the pad would be extremely helpful.

[Joe L.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

Monte, I just took another look. the only difference i see between my covers and the pair you posted is that on mine the oil fill hole is designed for a twist on cap rather than a plug. I have not tried a twist cap on it yet though. I do not know what this difference means. Could mine be 70 BB covers? thanks, Ed

Ed-----


You need to determine if a twist-on oil cap will work. If so, you have the 1970 style covers which were used on early/some 1971 big blocks. If the twist-on oil fill cap will not work, it's because the cam feature has been damaged. In that case, you can't convert them to push-in plug and be correct. The "cut-outs" and cam-lock feature were not present on the 1971 rubber plug valve covers. So, even if you were to strip the chrome and paint them, the right side cover will not be correct. It will be functional (as it has been for years), but it won't be correct. If the twist-on oil filler will work, then you have valve covers that are correct for 1970 and "some" 1971's. Whether your car originally was among the cars that were equipped with these valve covers, we'll never know.