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Durango_Boy '63 Finned Valve Covers.
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Columbia, MO
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I'm in the early stages of planning an engine build for a local guy with a '63 Corvette. One of the aspects is transferring the stock intake and valve covers from the 340 HP 327 in the car, to the 355 I'll be building.

I seem to remember hearing that the 327 heads had a slightly different valve cover bolt pattern and that the valve covers wouldn't bolt up to later year heads.

Anyone confirm or deny this? The heads I'm planning to use are after market Vortec heads that are drilled for both center bolt and perimeter patterns. So long as the 327 covers have the same perimeter pattern then I have nothing to worry about.

Thanks.
Posted on: 2009/12/25 2:30
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bogus Re: '63 Finned Valve Covers.
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the simple solution would be to check valve cover gasket applications.
Posted on: 2009/12/25 3:09
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Durango_Boy Re: '63 Finned Valve Covers.
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Quote:

bogus wrote:
the simple solution would be to check valve cover gasket applications.



I have...both part numbers seem to have a dual pattern hole set. Leads me to believe they are different, but it might also be fore some other engine / application.
Posted on: 2009/12/25 3:41
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Ultraman Re: '63 Finned Valve Covers.
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I seem to recall that I once tried to put early finned valve covers with the Corvette script on my 79 L82 and they did not work. I later put some fuelie heads on the the 79 and then they did work. That was a long time ago though.
Posted on: 2009/12/25 3:44
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Durango_Boy Re: '63 Finned Valve Covers.
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Columbia, MO
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Quote:

Ultraman wrote:
I seem to recall that I once tried to put early finned valve covers with the Corvette script on my 79 L82 and they did not work. I later put some fuelie heads on the the 79 and then they did work. That was a long time ago though.



I think the catch is with the EARLY covers. Some reading revealed that the pattern was staggered from '55 to early '59. The pattern was squared in late '59 up through '85...where they changed to center bolt style.

So, 'assuming' the engine, which is not the original 340 HP 327...is a late '59 or later, the covers should bolt on to the after market heads just fine.

Yay for me.
Posted on: 2009/12/25 4:27
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cuisinartvette Re: '63 Finned Valve Covers.
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Hit up GREGGPENN on the other forum, he has a link to a company that makes those for the late heads, make tall ones too. They are downright beautiful .
Posted on: 2009/12/25 15:05
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Durango_Boy Re: '63 Finned Valve Covers.
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Columbia, MO
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Quote:

cuisinartvette wrote:
Hit up GREGGPENN on the other forum, he has a link to a company that makes those for the late heads, make tall ones too. They are downright beautiful .



Thanks, might look into that, but I can't use CF. Perma-banned.
Posted on: 2009/12/25 15:19
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cuisinartvette Re: '63 Finned Valve Covers.
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Hes a member here, just cant recall his username.

I think its too muchtorqueat1200rpm or something
Posted on: 2009/12/25 16:12
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BillH Re: '63 Finned Valve Covers.
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DB, if you need a measurement on the holes, I have a set laying here. Sq. pattern.
Posted on: 2009/12/26 18:30
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Durango_Boy Re: '63 Finned Valve Covers.
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Quote:

BillH wrote:
DB, if you need a measurement on the holes, I have a set laying here. Sq. pattern.



If it's square then that's all I need to know. Thanks.
Posted on: 2009/12/26 20:51
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BillH Re: '63 Finned Valve Covers.
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Reno
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8 13/16ths x 4 1/8th

This one's p/n 3767493, BTW.

Attach file:



jpg  IMGP0627.jpg (0.00 KB)

Posted on: 2009/12/26 22:11
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CentralCoaster Re: '63 Finned Valve Covers.
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San Diego, CA
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Quote:

Durango_Boy wrote:

I think the catch is with the EARLY covers. Some reading revealed that the pattern was staggered from '55 to early '59. The pattern was squared in late '59 up through '85...where they changed to center bolt style.

So, 'assuming' the engine, which is not the original 340 HP 327...is a late '59 or later, the covers should bolt on to the after market heads just fine.

Yay for me.


YUP.

I have some 59+ covers and they have the non-staggered holes.

I haven't put them on because the ends are bent up from use over the years and would probably leak like crazy. Make sure whatever you get is flat on the bottom. Also GM makes reproductions of these now.


Here's a test fit:

Resized Image
Posted on: 2009/12/28 17:46
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BrianCunningham Re: '63 Finned Valve Covers.
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Boston, MA for the most part :)
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I've always like those valve covers

I wouldn't mine running them on my LT1 but I think the adapters would not let them clear my alternator bracket.
Posted on: 2009/12/28 17:51
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BillH Re: '63 Finned Valve Covers.
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Reno
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Quote:

CentralCoaster wrote:


Here's a test fit:

Resized Image


Too bad cause that looks really good.
Posted on: 2009/12/28 23:07
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CentralCoaster Re: '63 Finned Valve Covers.
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$55 each, bare cast.

http://paceperformance.com/index.asp? ... ion=VIEWPROD&ProdID=73115

You can buy them polished also.

Here's a kit to convert centerbolts to perimeter bolt:

http://www.jegs.com/p/GM-Performance/ ... r-Adapter/751226/10002/-1

For PCV, you're on your own. These cars breathed through the intake base I think.
Posted on: 2009/12/29 0:21
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BillH Re: '63 Finned Valve Covers.
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Quote:

CentralCoaster wrote:


For PCV, you're on your own. These cars breathed through the intake base I think.


It depends on the motor but, most small blocks had a oil filler tube ( about 1 1/4 dia.,roughly 4 in. high) that was pushed into a hole in the front of the intake. On some the PVC was screwed into the tube.
On some likea 250 or 300 horse in '65, it was just a hose, no PCV valve at all.
The other end of the hose ran to a bunch of places, carb at the bottom, carb at the top and into the aircleaner bottom plate.
Posted on: 2009/12/29 1:27
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