The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 1946 216 engine valve spring retainers and oil seals

texas46 - The O-ring seals didn't come along until the 1947 model year. The 1946 and earlier engines used a "cover" (Group 0.308) as the spring retainer with the keepers as you mentioned. Intake valve covers are round, while the exhaust valve covers are hexagon shaped.

According to Page 6-24 of the 1942-46 Chevrolet Car and Truck Shop Manual:

"Valve spring cap covers, of an umbrella type are used on all intake valve stem ends. The cap covers are designed to carry oil which flows down the rocker arms to lubricate the valve end of the arms, out over the intake valve spring. This reduces the amount of oil reaching the intake valve stems for guide lubrication, thus controlling oil consumption and smoking when the engine is idling."

The Group 0.309 listed as a "cap" is better identified as the valve spring "Cap-rotator assembly" which is unrelated to oil control, but meant to extend valve life.

Attached is a screenshot from a 1942 Shop Manual (same picture as I have in the 1942-46 book) which you can kinda see everything. Sorry for the poor quality of the pic.