71 BB vavle covers

[Ed L.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

Joe thanks for that concise answer. I will, before I re-chrome them, try a twist-on cap. If it works I will be happy to think that my car came with these covers. I am a long way from going for flight judging and probably will never go for it but I do enjoy the car and try to improve its looks and originality a little at a time. Just for my education though are there points taken off for a correct warranty replacement block vs having the original block?

[Monte M.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

I agree, If there is any sign of it being a twist in oil filler plug, don't waste your time. With the tab in the middle top surface being wrong as well, it is just not worth the effort.
I was under the impression, from our conversations, that these were just like the covers I have here. Like the ones in the picture with the "note" on it. In which case the oil filler hole is just like most of the 71 and after BB valve covers. A push in oil plug filler cap.
Again, even if it were a twist in cap, your idea, from what you told me, was to have a set of covers that LOOK correct until you can find an original set. The tabs being wrong is another issue which I explained the easiest way to fix that problem, and you have your covers that LOOK correct for now.

Let me know and I will be glad to do what I explained earlier.

Monte

[Monte M.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

Above: NOS set of flash chrome, drippers, push in oil filler plug. Only differences from 1971 style painted covers is the chrome and the tabs are a different style tab than what is typically on the 71 style covers.

Below: The very distinct cut outs in the round hole for a twist in oil filler cap.

Last edited by Monte Marin (18651); December 14th, 2012 at 03:51 AM.

Ed,
It is simple to tell if they are twist in or push in. The top picture is push in and the bottom is twist in. The push in are very common and all over swap meets as the twist in are.

Monte

[Ed L.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

thanks for all the help..here is the photo of the stamp reads" CE170713CPH ."

[Ed L.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

mine are the twist in type..thanks...

Above: NOS set of flash chrome, drippers, push in oil filler plug. Only differences from 1971 style painted covers is the chrome and the tabs are a different style tab than what is typically on the 71 style covers.

Below: The very distinct cut outs in the round hole for a twist in oil filler cap.

Last edited by Monte Marin (18651); December 14th, 2012 at 03:51 AM.

Ed,
It is simple to tell if they are twist in or push in. The top picture is push in and the bottom is twist in. The push in are very common and all over swap meets as the twist in are.

Monte

[Joe L.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

Joe thanks for that concise answer. I will, before I re-chrome them, try a twist-on cap. If it works I will be happy to think that my car came with these covers. I am a long way from going for flight judging and probably will never go for it but I do enjoy the car and try to improve its looks and originality a little at a time. Just for my education though are there points taken off for a correct warranty replacement block vs having the original block?

Ed-----


Yes, there is a points loss for a warranty replacement "CE" engine. I believe the points loss is even much greater if the casting date of the block is not correct for the build date of the car.

[John H.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

thanks for all the help..here is the photo of the stamp reads" CE170713CPH ."

The "CE170713" portion of the stamp makes sense for a short block assembled in 1971 at Tonawanda, and the 70713 sequence fits within the block of "CE" numbers allocated to Tonawanda, but I've never seen a production suffix on a "CE" short block. Can you post a close-up (macro) photo of the pad?

[John H.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

Just for my education though are there points taken off for a correct warranty replacement block vs having the original block?

Ed -

Yes, there are major deductions. The only things that count in judging the block are the casting number, casting date, and the front stamp pad. "CE" blocks are seldom the same casting number as the original production block, so if the casting number is incorrect, block judging stops there and a 350-point deduction is taken. If by chance the casting number is correct but the casting date doesn't fit within the 6-month window, judging stops there and a 175-point deduction is taken. No credit is given for a "CE" replacement block unless the judging criteria are met.

[Ed L.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

There is a close up on my previous post tonight. there are no other numbers or letters to the stamp. The 1st letter is faint under the paint so it is hard to read but I traced it with a pick and it is definitely a C. I guess I have some sort of rare situation???

The "CE170713" portion of the stamp makes sense for a short block assembled in 1971 at Tonawanda, and the 70713 sequence fits within the block of "CE" numbers allocated to Tonawanda, but I've never seen a production suffix on a "CE" short block. Can you post a close-up (macro) photo of the pad?

[John H.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

There is a close up on my previous post tonight. there are no other numbers or letters to the stamp. The 1st letter is faint under the paint so it is hard to read but I traced it with a pick and it is definitely a C. I guess I have some sort of rare situation???

Ed -

I don't see a photo of the pad in any of your posts, including last night's.

[Ed L.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

here is is...thanks for your help...
BLOCK STAMP.jpg

[Patrick B.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

here is is...thanks for your help...
[ATTACH=CONFIG]43473[/ATTACH]

It looks like someone added the CPH to the CE code with hand stamps. Probably not at Tonawanda.

[Ed L.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

The first C is hard to see but it is same font and size as second one. What would a judge say about my block in my car? What other codes should I check? Thanks, Ed

[Patrick H.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

The first C is hard to see but it is same font and size as second one. What would a judge say about my block in my car? What other codes should I check? Thanks, Ed

Use some paint stripper on the pad if you feel up to it and remove the paint so we can see it better.

Odds are, though, that it's a CE block that someone hand stamped the suffix code.

[Joe L.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

The first C is hard to see but it is same font and size as second one. What would a judge say about my block in my car? What other codes should I check? Thanks, Ed

Ed------

The other important numbers from the block are the casting number and the casting date. These will be found on the block's bellhousing flange, looking down from the rear of each cylinder head. The casting number will be on the driver side and should be a 7 digit number beginning with "39". The casting date will be on the passenger side and will be an alpha character followed by several digits.

I agree that the suffix code was hand-stamped. Where or why this was done I have no idea but it explains why this block has a suffix code whereas I've never seen another "CE" engine with one. Regardless, the suffix code is only a curiosity here inasmuch as the complete stamping is not the type seen on engines originally installed in the cars. So, from a judging perspective, it really does not matter what is on the stamp pad.

The block casting number and casting date are important, however. As John explained previously, you will suffer a considerable deduction based on the stamp pad. Whether you suffer additional significant deductions will depend on the casting number and date.