The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 216/235 vavle covers

I remember seeing this somewhere. I am not even sure it was on Stovebolt. I did a search and after viewing tons of discussions on valve covers from paint color to the correct gasket I gave up.

Does anyone know where I can see pictures of the various valve covers used on the AD trucks. I remember seeing where someone posted photos of the different valve covers and description of the design and the year and size 216/235 they where on.

Example, some have the filler cap in the middle. My 54 has the filler cap toward the front.

There is a Tech tip page that does this for the different model oil filter canisters.

Pre '68 Dave gave a lecture many years ago (at a Puget Sound VCC Chapter meeting), that had excellent illustrations. Those illustrations used to be posted on Dave's Blog site. I cannot find them/it there now.

Attached below is is one of Dave's illustrations - stovebolt engine valve covers.

Unfortunately the VCCA changed web servers a while back and deleted my presentation.
I wish I had made a copy.

That is sad new, Dave

If I ever find a complete copy of your lecture/presentation, I'll let you know.

What was the date of your lecture?
What was the date of it being posted on the Puget Sound website?

I'll try to find a copy.

I found 6 PDF pages containing the "slides"/photos from your lecture, Dave
Do you want me to email them to you?

Never knew 54 valve cover was a one year only, are they worth anything?

Thanks Tim, that would be great!

The 54 Corvette guys look for them now and then.

I must thank the PO's for the paint jobs on the valve covers above shown by Dave. They make me smile!

Thanks, this is what I was looking for. It could have been Dave's page I saw it on.

I fell into an complete engine. The owner doesn't know anything about it. Once I take possession I will do some research on the numbers but it is supposed to be a 235. I have a picture and based on the valve cover it appears to be a 1959-1962

Is this the same presentation?

www.victorylibrary.com/graphics/235/6%2520cylinder%2520engines%2520with%2520photos.pdf

Sorry, it would not create a hyperlink.

Why did they move the filler to the middle in 1959? Was that easier to clean up the oil mess when you miss on filling?

NIce link, Frank

You can get it to work by using the "world/link icon - Insert Link" on the advanced edit (Use Full Editor) screen/page/dialog-box.

http://www.victorylibrary.com/graphics/235/6%2520cylinder%2520engines%2520with%2520photos.pdf

Great document/presentation, I just saved it for future reference.

Very interesting. It didn't occur to me that a 216 carb and manifold could be used on the 235. Would this cause any change in performance?

Yes - the carburetors (and manifolds, if different from that engine's original manifold) were designed to match the engine.

The differences might not be much in some cases, but you would probably "feel it".

Thanks guys,
I will get this back on my blog.

From 1941-49 the big trucks with 235's used 216 carb and manifolds from the factory.
I have installed many 216 manifolds on 235's and I feel they actually have better low to mid range power and throttle response than with the 235 manifold and carb.
It is true that high RPM performance is reduced, but for the type of driving these are used for there is no down side.

Brilliant PDF Dave. Thanks for sharing.
Steve

Thanks For the Presentation Pre '68 Dave
Very informative.

Just curious are you related to ChevroLEE as in Lee Folsom

At one time they had some data on the pugetsoundvintagechevrolet.org website that was complied by Lee Folsom.
The data was about Parts Identification of all Chevrolet torque tubes including part numbers, dimensions of propeller shafts, torque tubes, bushings etc.
To bad they took down that data. It was some good stuff.

The website victorylibrary.com where your Presentation is located at also has a interesting article about Powerglide engine intake valves.
I did not know they increase the size of the intake valves buy 1/16 of a inch to compensate for the power lost in the torque converter.
You can read the article Powerglide intake valves for the Chevrolet “Stovebolt” 235 and 261 engines
The larger intake valves improves peak power.

What do they mean ?, "Minor bowl enlargement for best results"

Yes, ChevroLee was my dad, and I sure miss him and his wealth of information.

I still have all of his parts identification charts, and some I have put on my blog.

I have installed the larger Powerglide valves on later 235's that I was hopping up.

Sorry for your loss, I loss my dad in 2007 so I can relate.
After reading some of a your blog, I think some of your dad rubbed off onto you.

Being a VCCA member, awhile back I had called and talked to someone over at Puget Sound Region VCCA
I don't remember who I talk to, could of been Al Howe, I asked him where the data went, I think he said "some stuff did not get transferred over".
I think he said if I really needed it, I could email him and he would dig it up and email me copy.
After talking to him, I kind of had the feeling that the data would eventually be moved to the new server.
I just never got around to sending him a email.

I just remember that they way your dad had all the data laid out was unique and very detailed.

My 1949 216/235 has the two hole mount on the rocker arm cover. The oil fill was up front.....I just went out to the storage shack and guesss was is missing? hmmmm.

Interesting information about valve covers which prompts me to share a funny personal story......

I was walking around a swap meet last year when I stumbled upon an NOS Chevy valve cover that looked exactly like the one that sat on top of my 216. I paid a whopping $10 for it.
My original was leaking badly, so one day last summer I finally got around to replacing it with the new one. Got it all bolted down and it looked good. After checking the oil level, I needed to add a quart, so I reached to unscrew the filler cap....... There wasn’t one!!! I had never noticed that there was no hole in the cover! I immediately thought that I had bought a GM defective valve cover; a reject. I laughed at myself for being so stupid as to not notice there was no hole!

Luckily I read this thread and learned from tclederman’s picture that it was indeed a correct valve cover, just not for my motor.

The new valve cover solved my oil leak, so I’m happy, but now I have to completely remove it every time I need to add oil. It’s a small irritation to live with.

Chuck,

That excellent/informative photo of valve covers is Pre ‘68 Dave’s photo.

My guess as to the application of that early Stovebolt engine valve cover : the oil filler cap was on the top of the road draft tube.

Dave, or others, will post a confirmation or correction.

I've got a couple of engines with solid top valve covers and the oil filler on the road draft tube. Those draft tubes aren't all that scarce, so installing one would probably be an easy fix.
Jerry

How you were supposed to add oil to your engine if you had one of those valve covers with no holes was my next question. Thanks Tim and Jerry for the answer. I’ll be looking for one of those draft tubes at the swap meets I attend this year. Thanks!

Oh, and thanks Dave for the reference picture of various valve covers!

What the article refers to as "minor bowl enlargement..." is blending and slightly enlarging the pocket in the head behind the valve seat. That would amount to a very small cleanup of the pocket to improve flow.

Nice presentation on the subtle engine differences!

That's also known as "pocket porting". It can be done with a hand-turned reamer with an angle of 70 degrees or so, or by carefully hand-shaping the port with a cone-shaped stone in a die grinder. If you cut too deep, you end up with a water-cooled combustion chamber!
Jerry

I found one of those road draft tubes with the filler cap on top and installed it yesterday afternoon. Fit like a glove, and adding a quart of oil was real easy. Thanks for the solution to my problem Jerry and Tim!