L 79 Valve Cover Opinion - NCRS Discussion Boards

L 79 Valve Cover Opinion

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • Frank C.
    Very Frequent User
    • August 31, 2003
    • 171

    L 79 Valve Cover Opinion

    I am attaching pictures of the valve covers from my April built 66 L79 SN: 20080.
    Are these replacements or could they be original to the car?
    I also do not see evidence of the casting flaw discussed in the JG.

    Thanks

    Frank

    IMG_1906.jpgIMG_1901.jpgIMG_1902.jpgIMG_1903.jpg
    Frank Clark
    U.S. Army Retired, current serving DoD Civilian
    C1 1962 300hp, 4spd. Black/Fawn
    C2 1966 Coupe, L79, A01, C60, J50, M21, N40. Silver/Black
    C20 1966 Custom Camper, L30, J70, M49, N40, G60, Saddle/White
    C20 1966 Custom Camper, L30, M49, N40, G60, Saddle/White

  • Joe L.
    Beyond Control Poster
    • February 1, 1988
    • 43221

    #2
    Re: L 79 Valve Cover Opinion

    Originally posted by Frank Clark (40549)
    I am attaching pictures of the valve covers from my April built 66 L79 SN: 20080.
    Are these replacements or could they be original to the car?
    I also do not see evidence of the casting flaw discussed in the JG.

    Thanks

    Frank

    [ATTACH=CONFIG]44435[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]44436[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]44437[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]44438[/ATTACH]
    Frank-----


    One could never say with absolute certainty but I think they're original to the car.
    In Appreciation of John Hinckley

    Comment

    • Ray G.
      Extremely Frequent Poster
      • May 31, 1986
      • 1189

      #3
      Re: L 79 Valve Cover Opinion

      Hello Frank;
      What Joe said.
      my .02
      And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
      I hope you dance


      Comment

      • Frank C.
        Very Frequent User
        • August 31, 2003
        • 171

        #4
        Re: L 79 Valve Cover Opinion

        Understood,

        As long as these are not re productions, I will restore and use.
        Thanks for the help.

        Frank
        Frank Clark
        U.S. Army Retired, current serving DoD Civilian
        C1 1962 300hp, 4spd. Black/Fawn
        C2 1966 Coupe, L79, A01, C60, J50, M21, N40. Silver/Black
        C20 1966 Custom Camper, L30, J70, M49, N40, G60, Saddle/White
        C20 1966 Custom Camper, L30, M49, N40, G60, Saddle/White

        Comment

        • Morris R.
          Expired
          • May 7, 2012
          • 213

          #5
          Re: L 79 Valve Cover Opinion

          Originally posted by frank clark (40549)
          i am attaching pictures of the valve covers from my april built 66 l79 sn: 20080.
          Are these replacements or could they be original to the car?
          I also do not see evidence of the casting flaw discussed in the jg.

          Thanks

          frank

          [ATTACH=CONFIG]44435[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]44436[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]44437[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]44438[/ATTACH]
          they look to be originals, now if you were to be looking for period correctness then they are the wrong ones for your car. You need the flaw on your vavle covers to be correct. They started around vin #17,000 showing up with the flaw. If you are not concern with correctness keep them , they are in good shape. On page 92 in the jg you will find some information.

          Comment

          • Frank C.
            Very Frequent User
            • August 31, 2003
            • 171

            #6
            Re: L 79 Valve Cover Opinion

            Morris,

            Thanks. part of my question was could these be original to my car. I have no reason to beilieve they are not. The archives indicate others with as late as early 67 cars have original valve covers with no casting flaws, or even one with/one without. I have discussed other anomilies I have found with my car here. My position is if there is reasonable evidence/argument to suggest these could be original to the car, I will restore, and reinstall. I am just the current caretaker of this car, and not concerned about chasing points.

            Frank
            Frank Clark
            U.S. Army Retired, current serving DoD Civilian
            C1 1962 300hp, 4spd. Black/Fawn
            C2 1966 Coupe, L79, A01, C60, J50, M21, N40. Silver/Black
            C20 1966 Custom Camper, L30, J70, M49, N40, G60, Saddle/White
            C20 1966 Custom Camper, L30, M49, N40, G60, Saddle/White

            Comment

            • Edward J.
              Extremely Frequent Poster
              • September 15, 2008
              • 6942

              #7
              Re: L 79 Valve Cover Opinion

              Frank, I have read some other post about the flawed 66 valve covers, I believe that the die cracking was a slow progress. so it could be that some of the earlier 66 cars after VIN 17000 show only minor flaws, being your car was 3000 cars after,Maybe the flaw(s) may only be small. There is many posts in the archives.
              New England chapter member, 63 Convert. 327/340- Chapter/Regional/national Top Flight, 72 coupe- chapter and regional Top Flight.

              Comment

              • Morris R.
                Expired
                • May 7, 2012
                • 213

                #8
                Re: L 79 Valve Cover Opinion

                Originally posted by frank clark (40549)
                morris,

                thanks. Part of my question was could these be original to my car. I have no reason to beilieve they are not. The archives indicate others with as late as early 67 cars have original valve covers with no casting flaws, or even one with/one without. I have discussed other anomilies i have found with my car here. My position is if there is reasonable evidence/argument to suggest these could be original to the car, i will restore, and reinstall. I am just the current caretaker of this car, and not concerned about chasing points.

                Frank
                hi frank,
                there will be always reasonable evidence/argument for almost everything, thats why we have judges or in this case jg (ncrs) in determining what is more likely to be correct. You will never know for sure if they are originals to that car, all the archives will state different things and thats not to say your car came with those valve covers or it didn't. The bottom line frank if you are satisfy with your valve covers who cares if they are correct or not for that car as long as you are happy. Enjoy your ride! Have a great week

                Comment

                • Joe C.
                  Expired
                  • August 31, 1999
                  • 4598

                  #9
                  Re: L 79 Valve Cover Opinion

                  Originally posted by Frank Clark (40549)
                  Understood,

                  As long as these are not re productions, I will restore and use.
                  Thanks for the help.

                  Frank

                  They currently have the proper surface finish, and I'd be VERY careful about "restoring" them. That finish can NOT be replicated without special re-skinning equipment, so any abrasive or chemical treatment will result in your having to spend a good deal of money on having them professionally reskinned.

                  It appears that, like MANY of them, yours may have porosity issues, or, may have been repaired or cemented on the inside. If it were me, I'd lightly clean them with mild aluminum polish, like Nevr Dull wadding. Install them, and if any leaks show up, abrade on the inside and cover the area with steel mesh embedded in JB Weld or other purpose formulated metal epoxy.

                  Comment

                  • John D.
                    Extremely Frequent Poster
                    • December 1, 1979
                    • 5507

                    #10
                    Re: L 79 Valve Cover Opinion

                    Seen I have seen my Corvette valve covers than I care to remember let me make a comment.
                    By April 66 one might expect a major flaw on the "Inside" of the valve cover. Meaning a rather pronunced sign of a crack., Not just a hint of a crack in the seam on the inside but one that you would not need glasses to see.

                    Meanwhile Frank the major crack and the unprofessional repair to it means the owner would not want to spend a lot of money in having this cover refinished. Replacement would be in order. John

                    Comment

                    • Henry J.
                      Very Frequent User
                      • November 1, 1999
                      • 457

                      #11
                      Re: L 79 Valve Cover Opinion

                      Frank:

                      My April-built 66 L79 has the original valve covers and they do not exhibit a casting flaw.

                      Comment

                      • Joe L.
                        Beyond Control Poster
                        • February 1, 1988
                        • 43221

                        #12
                        Re: L 79 Valve Cover Opinion

                        All-----


                        For a part like these valve covers, I don't see how any sort of "precise" date can be established as to when a certain feature ended or began. GM plants, including engine plants, did not "rotate their stock" on a "first in, first out" type of basis. It was more like "last in, first out". So, older stock might languish for awhile and then be drawn out when the stock got lower. The same sort of thing might have occurred at the component manufacturing plants, too.

                        One other thing that's always troubled me: I realize that most of the evidence we have would point to the fact that only a single mold existed for every one of these valve covers ever cast. That seems strange to me, though. Even though this valve cover was a relatively low volume piece, it would just seem like there would have been more than one mold if only for manufacturing efficiency.
                        In Appreciation of John Hinckley

                        Comment

                        • Michael M.
                          Expired
                          • September 1, 2010
                          • 118

                          #13
                          Re: L 79 Valve Cover Opinion

                          Hi guys,

                          I have a late March built 66 L79 #17178. I have one valve cover with and one without the casting flaw. They certainly appear to be original parts, but who knows if they were original to this car. They also look identical to each other at first glance, except for the crack, but I never took the time to check every little mark on the inside to see if they may have come from the same mold. That's something I will check out next time I have them off (if I remember to). My guess would be that there was more than one mold. They had to make close to 16,000 valve covers for 66 L79 production alone.

                          Mike
                          Last edited by Michael M.; January 31, 2013, 11:03 PM.

                          Comment

                          • Morris R.
                            Expired
                            • May 7, 2012
                            • 213

                            #14
                            Re: L 79 Valve Cover Opinion

                            Originally posted by joe lucia (12484)
                            all-----


                            for a part like these valve covers, i don't see how any sort of "precise" date can be established as to when a certain feature ended or began. Gm plants, including engine plants, did not "rotate their stock" on a "first in, first out" type of basis. It was more like "last in, first out". So, older stock might languish for awhile and then be drawn out when the stock got lower. The same sort of thing might have occurred at the component manufacturing plants, too.

                            One other thing that's always troubled me: I realize that most of the evidence we have would point to the fact that only a single mold existed for every one of these valve covers ever cast. That seems strange to me, though. Even though this valve cover was a relatively low volume piece, it would just seem like there would have been more than one mold if only for manufacturing efficiency.
                            good point joe who really knows what went on 50 years ago. Have a great week.

                            Comment

                            Working...
                            Searching...Please wait.
                            An unexpected error was returned: 'Your submission could not be processed because you have logged in since the previous page was loaded.

                            Please push the back button and reload the previous window.'
                            An unexpected error was returned: 'Your submission could not be processed because the token has expired.

                            Please push the back button and reload the previous window.'
                            An internal error has occurred and the module cannot be displayed.
                            There are no results that meet this criteria.
                            Search Result for "|||"