The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks Valve Covers

Getting close to starting my engine and just have the orange valve covers on a 283. I would like to buy some aluminum ones. But here is the question that I have. Why are there so many holes in the covers I have seen covers that have two holes in each one. I will have my pcv valve hooked up to the blow by vent in the back of the motor, there is an adapter there now to connect a hose too. I will connect it to the base of the carb. And there is the vent tub in the front of the motor to put oil in your motor. So why do I need to have holes in my valve covers.

Thanks again for the help
Rocky

climberman...I collect a lot of aluminum valve covers.
The early 265 and 283 heads have 4 offset holes (two holes are closer together than the other two), In late 1958 or early 1959, the covers changed so the holes were straight across from each other (equally spaced).
You don't need holes in the valve covers if you have it as you say.
Do you have a type or style of valve cover you want in mind?

I had been looking one day at covers and found aluminum ones with fins on the top looked cool. Other then that not sure. I don't have the link anymore but sure I can find it. What would be really cool is to have them say Chevrolet on them.

Rocky,

Merry Christmas. Sounds like you are wanting early Corvette finned aluminum valve covers which will work great with your draft tube / intake oil fill motor.

They would be "era correct" as these are what were used on Corvettes back in the day (not sure if that matters to you or not). Look, this guy dropped a 'vette mill in his pickup.

I used them back in the 1980's when I built my SBC powered Model A

http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/uu176/lakeroadster/1931%20Ford%20Tudor/DSCF0038_zps4299b0cd.jpg

Eklers has them... they are pricey: http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=chevrolet+finned+valve+covers&x=0&y=0

A fella on Ebay has them for a better price:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1959-67-Corvette-Script-Aluminum-Fin-Valve-Covers-NEW-Lester-Stamped-p-3767493-/221720931768?fits=Make%3AChevrolet&hash=item339f98edb8:g:ZL8AAOSwp5JWYKAk&vxp=mtr

As to your question of why so many holes in valve covers... it's because when they did away with the draft tube and the breather / oil filler tube both these were then plumbed into the valve covers. Some valve covers just have one hole, but since the valve covers fit the left and right side, universal, that means one hole would be in front on one side, and on the back on the other side. So most manufacturers put 2 holes in each cover and then supply plugs to plug the holes you don't need.

Make sense?

_____
John

Thanks for clearing that up for me John. And those valve covers are in my wish list budget. I will save that link for the future. All of my brackets and pulleys are aluminum so those covers would be perfect.

Thanks