[bhill86]

Anyone recognize these valve covers? The assumption was they’re for Pontiac, and I haven’t tried them on my spare engine yet, but they don’t look like they’re deep enough compared to factory valve covers. The odd shape on each end puzzles me also. Any clue?

[misterp266]

The only “odd” thing I see is the two screws in the top one.

[steve25]

Well there pre mid 1967 in the latest because those shallow valve covers would only work on the early valve inclination angle heads.

How far back you might ask?

My guess is that the first chrome valve covers Pontiac used would have been on the 64 GTO.

[Stuart]

That shape valve cover was used by the factory from 1961 up to I think 1966. I'm not sure about the exact year, I'm not familiar with the extended breather on the one. I agree the first factory chrome covers would have been in 1964, but these could have been plated by some previous owner.

[madeuce50]

If they are a factory chromed set, then pre February of 1964 model year. Pretty sure 64 was the last stacked passenger side cover and sometime early in calendar year 64 the solid [no hole] drivers side cover was superseded to one with the 1" hole.

[thepontiacman]

Pontiac earlier than 67 had those bumps on ends.


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[The Champ]

1964 Pontiac Dealers Sales Manual page with 4bbl and tri carb engine showing those valve covers and my original 1964 GTO 78XW block date coded 4/11/64 with said valve covers:

[Held for Ransom]

Butler sells the '66 style, but doesn't have a removable top like the one seems to (wait, it's an illusion).
https://butlerperformance.com/i-2674...aau-n221t.html
Mr. Gasket has an extension tube...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/195943695894

The Champ, oil hole looks centered on his.

[Held for Ransom]

Oops, looks like that's the vent tube hole.
This one on eBay doesn't have the hole and an extension, listed as '64.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/393918595455
This one is listed as 1959-'64 and has the hole.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/234410865613

[b-man]

They’re 1964 GTO valve covers.

I have a set on my 1964 421 HO.

Don’t use them on 1967 and later 14 degree valve angle heads unless you use some spacers, their shallow design is correct for the 1966 and earlier (and low-performance 1967) 20-degree 326/389/421 heads.

[bhill86]

Thanks for the info guys. I don’t plan to use them. They were just part of a parts stash I got. What are the bumps for anyway? Anything or just aesthetic? If they’re of use to someone they can find their way out of my garage cheap.

[NeighborsComplaint]

1959-64

[b-man]

Originally Posted by NeighborsComplaint

1959-64

The 1964 GTO chrome passenger side cover was unique with that tall breather stack. California emissions version used a push-on ‘top hat’ to fill the oil and a breather tube connected to the side of the air cleaner or Tri-Power air cleaner bases to the driver’s side valve cover. The 49 state cars used a push on breather cap on the passenger side only.

Here’s what 1959 & 1960 valve covers look like, completely different than the ‘61 - ‘66 covers.

No pentroof at the one end and just shaped differently. Twist-on oil filler breather caps located in the center and front.

Pictured is the 1959 2-barrel 280 hp 389 that I was playing with and have since sold, note the reverse cooling setup that was discontinued for 1960.

Also pictured 1964-1965 Tri-Power CA emissions air cleaners and breather pipe and 1964 only CA emissions push-on ‘top hat’ oil filler cap. Finally the 1964 only 49 state push-on chrome oil filler breather cap.

[pfilean]

Those little bumps at the ends are a puzzle. Have never heard any explanation for them. And can't see any benefit to them either. Showed up I think 1960 when the reverse cooling was gone and there shouldn't have been any connection. And disappeared maybe 1967 or possibly whenever the paint color changed to the metallic blue.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by pfilean

Those little bumps at the ends are a puzzle. Have never heard any explanation for them. And can't see any benefit to them either. Showed up I think 1960 when the reverse cooling was gone and there shouldn't have been any connection. And disappeared maybe 1967 or possibly whenever the paint color changed to the metallic blue.

Me neither.

I meant to ask Mac about that but sadly he passed before I had the chance.

K

[bhill86]

Good info nonetheless. I learned something new.

[b-man]

Engine paint color change to metallic blue happened for the 1966 model year that still had the same valve covers as 1965 which used the 1959-1965 light blue paint so no correlation there.

Could be simply for the sake of styling not function that the pentroof stamped at the end was put there, they’re an interesting looking valve cover for sure.

[Mister Pontiac]

Originally Posted by b-man

Could be simply for the sake of styling not function that the pentroof stamped at the end was put there, they’re an interesting looking valve cover for sure.

Well after all, they're Pontiac. And Pontiac is "Cool..."


The only other thought that came to mind is some amount of 'rigidity' to the entire cover?

If I had a 64, I'd run 'em. Original design just looks right.

[tom s]

61 was the first year with the pentroofs.Tom

[GtoFM]

Ames shows the valve covers in the OP as '64 EARLY. The LATE covers have a hole in the left cover. Midyear an executive decision must have been made, probably by someone on the line, to just use Cali covers and plug the other 49 states. Thoughts?

bhill86, what ARE the 2 screws securing to the top of the driver side VC?