Author Topic: Aluminum Valve Covers  (Read 736 times)

Offline cwmcobra

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Aluminum Valve Covers
« on: September 19, 2009, 11:11:03 AM »
Is there such a thing as "correct" aluminum valve covers for the 65 GS?  I believe the stock covers were chromed stamped steel.  Mine has aluminum covers which I really like the look of.  I'm wondering if they are correct for 65 with respect to the locations of the breather and PCV holes.  I have the opportunity to trade for other covers.  Should I care?  I'm not sure what to look for other than the locations of the holes and which holes are used for the breather.  This is a dual quad setup.  Below is a picture of what I have.

Thanks!

Chuck




1965 Skylark Gran Sport Convertible = 401 / 4-speed / dual quads
1965 Shelby Cobra Replica = Ford Racing 521 / 5-speed / custom 1000 cfm carb

Offline Joe65SkylarkGS

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Re: Aluminum Valve Covers
« Reply #1 on: September 19, 2009, 11:22:48 AM »
I'm putting the ones you currently have on my 65.

They are the best looking covers available IMO.
Going Fast with Class
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1965 GS 4 Speed Hard Top (Under Construction)
1965 Skylark 462, 12.21@109.8
1964 Special FireBall V6, 3 on the tree 4 Sale
1987 Grand National
1987 SS Monte T-Tops 4 sale
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Offline 65GS

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Re: Aluminum Valve Covers
« Reply #2 on: September 19, 2009, 01:02:04 PM »
 :icon_thumright:
Those are the best looking of them ALL. The cadillac of valve covers..
I'm brain washed.LOL

AL :drunken_smilie:
65 GS Conv.(flame red/ white int. orig. 401/ 4 speed.

Offline la65gs

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Re: Aluminum Valve Covers
« Reply #3 on: September 19, 2009, 01:53:20 PM »
The stock original covers as from the factory in '65 were steelpainted engine color.
The chrome covers were part of the engine beautification package , available from the dealer parts dept.This also had a chrome aircleaner .
If memory serves me, there were three different style of aluminum valve cover. The ones in the pic were for '66 .

Loren

Offline BuickGSrules

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Re: Aluminum Valve Covers
« Reply #4 on: September 19, 2009, 03:08:45 PM »
I have the ones like yours on my ?65 too, but when I am mounting the roller rockers I have from TA I will put theirs on, they look a bit like the same put has stamped Nailhead on top what I think too looks good
1965 Gran Sport HT

1970 GS350 4 speed delete car

Offline Chris At 65GS

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Re: Aluminum Valve Covers
« Reply #5 on: September 19, 2009, 04:05:08 PM »
The chrome package included the chrome valve covers and a chrome aircleaner base.  You had to reuse your original black aircleaner lid.

I have this package on my white convertible and I've only seen a couple others.

Chris
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Offline 65GS

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Re: Aluminum Valve Covers
« Reply #6 on: September 19, 2009, 07:24:56 PM »
Loren

These are the same ones I have on my GS since 1971. They came off a 65 Riv. GS. ? as to the 66 ref.?
I bought from orig. owner in 71. I got the 2-4 setup, orig.carbs, air cleaner,linkage, fuel lines and the alum. valve covers for the princely sum of $ 25.00 total. Still have the receipt. :bootyshake: :angel4: :angel4:

AL
65 GS Conv.(flame red/ white int. orig. 401/ 4 speed.

Offline WkillGS

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Re: Aluminum Valve Covers
« Reply #7 on: September 19, 2009, 07:43:23 PM »
Chuck, see that 'dent' on the front of the drivers side valve cover?......that's to clear the smog pump that was used on the '66 models. '65 covers didn't have it.
There were some minor changes thru the years. Correct me if I'm wrong....
'64 covers were the first.
'65 had a slight change on the left cover to clear the kickdown linkage for the ST400 trans.
There might have been a Calif version of the left side 65 cover with another opening???
'66 had the 'dent' on the left cover to clear the smog pump.
Right side covers had a straight or slanted pcv valve outlet.


Walt K
Eastern Pa

66 GS Astro Blue/blue 425 auto
66 GS Silver Mist/black 401 4 spd
66 GS Flame Red/black 401 5 spd
66 GS Saddle Mist/black 401 L76 auto
66 Special Flame Red/black 300 5 spd
65 GS vert Verde Green/ Saddle buckets 401 4 spd
79 Turbo Regal

Offline cwmcobra

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Re: Aluminum Valve Covers
« Reply #8 on: September 19, 2009, 09:40:53 PM »
Thanks Guys!  I take it from Walt's comments that the 65 left cover would not have the dent for the smog pump.  Is that the only change I should look for?  The breather holes are in the same locations?  Should the PCV hole in the right cover be vertical or slanted.  What I have now is slanted toward the rear of the engine.

Chuck
1965 Skylark Gran Sport Convertible = 401 / 4-speed / dual quads
1965 Shelby Cobra Replica = Ford Racing 521 / 5-speed / custom 1000 cfm carb

Offline la65gs

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Re: Aluminum Valve Covers
« Reply #9 on: September 19, 2009, 09:56:21 PM »
Thanks Walt! Those were the points I was going to refer to latter , after looking it up.

Yes Chuck, the '65's would NOT have the dent for the smog pump. So I guess, the left would be incorrect for a '65 in a judged BCA show.

Al, if your covers are identical, I would have to think that you've had the incorrect ones for a '65 since '71.

Loren

Offline wildcat65

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Re: Aluminum Valve Covers
« Reply #10 on: October 03, 2009, 08:25:01 AM »
The chrome package included the chrome valve covers and a chrome aircleaner base.  You had to reuse your original black aircleaner lid.

I have this package on my white convertible and I've only seen a couple others.

Chris

Cool, I am doing my 65 with the chrome air cleaner (a 66 'cause of an Edelbrock) and the chrome steel valve covers.  Were any other things chromed?  Like the voltage regulator?
Ted Nagel         65 Skylark GS 4-speed + Wildcats + GS's

Offline WkillGS

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Re: Aluminum Valve Covers
« Reply #11 on: October 03, 2009, 09:18:14 AM »
I have a pic of the accessory chrome kit posted here somewhere... :icon_scratch:
.... I just added them to the gallery in the NOS parts section for all to see.

Many of the pieces are avail as repo items:
CARS has a repo chrome oil breather.... and only $34! :headbang:
And you guys know they repo the correct aluminum disk air cleaner lid monogram....don't you? It's beautiful! :sunny:
http://oldbuickparts.com/

Russ Martin (Buickrodder on eBay) has repo chrome plug wire holders for $35 a set:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360190830754&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

Add some chrome valve cover bolts and a chrome oil filler cap and possibly a chrome wing nut to complete the package! :glasses9:





Walt K
Eastern Pa

66 GS Astro Blue/blue 425 auto
66 GS Silver Mist/black 401 4 spd
66 GS Flame Red/black 401 5 spd
66 GS Saddle Mist/black 401 L76 auto
66 Special Flame Red/black 300 5 spd
65 GS vert Verde Green/ Saddle buckets 401 4 spd
79 Turbo Regal

Offline Doc

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Re: Aluminum Valve Covers
« Reply #12 on: December 07, 2009, 08:48:59 AM »
The ribbed ,''BUICK'' covers were offered over the counter for all the nail head engines,,,, back in the day,,, the ones in the picture are 1966 covers with the dent for the calif. cars air pump... others didnt have the dent...

Offline WkillGS

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Re: Aluminum Valve Covers
« Reply #13 on: January 09, 2010, 12:34:23 PM »
Dug some info I had on file:

 Russ Martin posted the info, and I looked up the pn's in a parts book:

>>>>There are 3 left side covers, the 49 state one
that is the most common, the 2x4 calif. with 2
openings and the 66 calif. cover that you have. There were only two different right side covers, the early had a PCV valve that stuck straight up and a later one
that angled back. ----- Russ


1366222 64-65   RH straight PCV
1370316 64-64   LH
1371139 ?? LH    Xtra bolt in rear, 2 openings
1377932 66 RH   angled PCV
1377933 66 LH    Dent in front

I have a 1371139 here I bought on eBay. I didn't see it listed in the parts books, so no positive ID on that one.
Walt K
Eastern Pa

66 GS Astro Blue/blue 425 auto
66 GS Silver Mist/black 401 4 spd
66 GS Flame Red/black 401 5 spd
66 GS Saddle Mist/black 401 L76 auto
66 Special Flame Red/black 300 5 spd
65 GS vert Verde Green/ Saddle buckets 401 4 spd
79 Turbo Regal