71 BB vavle covers

[Ed L.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

LT1.jpgRT2.jpgI took these 2 photos of my valve covers on my 71BB. I am not sure of everything said above but hope some one can identify my covers and let me know what I have. Could they be my original covers which I assume would have been painted as it is a mid production 71? Could they be GM covers from another year Vette or are they from another GM model? Or are they 3rd party covers? Ideally I would like to have the correct covers for my car. I would think chrome would be nice but from what I learned that would not be correct? These, in any event, I would like to have in better condition but if not correct I am thinking I should either get correct ones or ones that are not correct but new? Any info and advice is appreciated. Thank Ed

[Patrick B.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

[ATTACH=CONFIG]43435[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]43436[/ATTACH]I took these 2 photos of my valve covers on my 71BB. I am not sure of everything said above but hope some one can identify my covers and let me know what I have. Could they be my original covers which I assume would have been painted as it is a mid production 71? Could they be GM covers from another year Vette or are they from another GM model? Or are they 3rd party covers? Ideally I would like to have the correct covers for my car. I would think chrome would be nice but from what I learned that would not be correct? These, in any event, I would like to have in better condition but if not correct I am thinking I should either get correct ones or ones that are not correct but new? Any info and advice is appreciated. Thank Ed

They look like 69 or 70 Corvette valve covers for a twist on oil cap. I think they would be correct for an early 71.

[Joe L.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

[ATTACH=CONFIG]43435[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]43436[/ATTACH]I took these 2 photos of my valve covers on my 71BB. I am not sure of everything said above but hope some one can identify my covers and let me know what I have. Could they be my original covers which I assume would have been painted as it is a mid production 71? Could they be GM covers from another year Vette or are they from another GM model? Or are they 3rd party covers? Ideally I would like to have the correct covers for my car. I would think chrome would be nice but from what I learned that would not be correct? These, in any event, I would like to have in better condition but if not correct I am thinking I should either get correct ones or ones that are not correct but new? Any info and advice is appreciated. Thank Ed

Ed------


I note a rubber plug sitting near the top of the right side cover. Is that what was installed in the filler opening on this cover? The cover appears to have a twist-lock style filler opening. Will a twist-lock cap install and seat properly on this cover? If so, it's the 1970 style cover which was also used on some early 1971 big blocks. I realize that yours is a mid-production but I have heard that these covers may have been used sporadically after very early production

[Ed L.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

Thanks Patrick and Joe. The rubber plug came with the car when I got it 12 yrs ago as did these covers. I do not have a 70 twist-lock filler opening cap to try. It definitely look like it would work if the opening is the right size. Anyone have the measurements? I like the thought that they might be original! If so I would want to have they re-chromed. Any ideas where someone is they would re-chrome these 'flash' chrome cover correctly?

[Terry M.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

[ATTACH=CONFIG]43435[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]43436[/ATTACH]I took these 2 photos of my valve covers on my 71BB. I am not sure of everything said above but hope some one can identify my covers and let me know what I have. Could they be my original covers which I assume would have been painted as it is a mid production 71? Could they be GM covers from another year Vette or are they from another GM model? Or are they 3rd party covers? Ideally I would like to have the correct covers for my car. I would think chrome would be nice but from what I learned that would not be correct? These, in any event, I would like to have in better condition but if not correct I am thinking I should either get correct ones or ones that are not correct but new? Any info and advice is appreciated. Thank Ed

Ed,
What would be necessary to properly evaluate the originality of your chrome rocker covers would be the assembly date of your engine. It was, for the most part, early assembled 1971 BBs that got the left over 1970 chrome covers. Keep in mind that the painted rocker covers were widely derided in 1971 and it was common for owners to replace them with chrome covers -- either used or from the parts counter. If you have had any success in chasing previous owners of your car you may find the original covers in storage with one of them.

[Ed L.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

Terry, thanks for input. where would i find assembly date on my 71BB engine?

[Ed L.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

another piece of info. is: next to my distributor on top of engine is the marking 'B28 71'. I assume that indicated the engine was assembled on February 28. 1971? Is that correct? thanks, Ed

[Joe L.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

Terry, thanks for input. where would i find assembly date on my 71BB engine?

Ed------


The best place to find the assembly date is on the engine stamp pad. This is located on the block in front of and below the passenger side cylinder head. There will be a series beginning with a "T", followed by several digits, followed by a 3 alpha character code.

[Ed L.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

thanks Joe..Ed

[Joe L.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

Thanks Patrick and Joe. The rubber plug came with the car when I got it 12 yrs ago as did these covers. I do not have a 70 twist-lock filler opening cap to try. It definitely look like it would work if the opening is the right size. Anyone have the measurements? I like the thought that they might be original! If so I would want to have they re-chromed. Any ideas where someone is they would re-chrome these 'flash' chrome cover correctly?

Ed------


I don't think a measurement is going to be of too much help. You really need to try a cap to see if it will work. I'm virtually certain this is a "twist-lock" cover but it's possible the "cam-like" feature on the opening has been damaged and that's why someone used a rubber push-in plug. If damaged, there's no way to repair it that I know of.

You can purchase a Stant cap in an auto parts store for just 2 or 3 dollars. The Stant part number is 10066. As a matter of fact, this cap is configured very similar to the original "twist-lock" cap used on these covers.

[Terry M.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

Terry, thanks for input. where would i find assembly date on my 71BB engine?

Ed emailed me and we are working on finding the engine assembly code -- actually I gave him directions and he is looking.

BTW: I speculated to him that the date he found near the distributor is the casting date for the intake manifold, and gave him some hints from there.

[Ed L.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

Dear Terry, This is the code I found under RF head: OE170713CPH

[Joe L.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

Dear Terry, This is the code I found under RF head: OE170713CPH

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.

[Thomas H.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

Dear Terry, This is the code I found under RF head: OE170713CPH

Ed,

Stamp pad from my 71 LS5. The car was built the first week of Sept in 1970 and has many 1970 left-overs...........

Tom

IMGP2068.jpg

[Kenneth T.]

Re: 71 BB vavle covers

Just my two cents on this. I have a late, last day of production, 1971 LS5.
It came with the painted covers and the push in plug. Original covers for this
car are not easy to find. The very early ones were carry overs from the 70 LS5s.

The 72s have a wire loom tack welded on the bottom of the cover, similar to Chevelle types.
The 71 covers are basically 70 type covers that are painted and a round hole for
the push in oil plug. Drippers of course.