[kyle_blake]

Oh hey I got these at garage sale just curious if they are for a 68 firebird and the value of them lately

[Gary H]

No on the 68' Firebird application. Those are later chrome valve covers with the drip rails inside, which the early ones didn't have. I would say those are 77-79' valve covers

[steve25]

Chrome cover came on ALL 64 to 79 4 bbl or Tripower motors with the exception being the 73/74 SD 455.

No 2 bbl motors ever came with chrome covers.

Your covers there are the 73 to .79 covers with the built in oil detectors as opposed to the 67 to 72 bolt on oil detector types.

Go on the Franks Pontiac site to get a idea on the price.

[P@blo]

Here is what the early, 1973-4? chrome valve covers with the drippers look like. Came off a 1972 455 but lived a previous life so who knows if they are original.

I'd take a 12 of beer for mine with a small ding on one...

[TXSTARFIRE]

Dont think I have seen those before. Looks like a RH and LH part number? Or you just need to pay attention when you install them.

[kyle_blake]

right on , thanks everyone. Looks like Frank has them for $50 USD

Pair 1972-79 Pontiac V8 Chrome Valve Covers $50. Nice condition. Several small dents. Built in oil dripper type.

https://www.frankspontiacparts.com/e...ngineparts.htm

[Gary H]

Originally Posted by steve25

Chrome cover came on ALL 64 to 79 4 bbl or Tripower motors with the exception being the 73/74 SD 455.

No 2 bbl motors ever came with chrome covers.

Your covers there are the 73 to .79 covers with the built in oil detectors as opposed to the 67 to 72 bolt on oil detector types.

Go on the Franks Pontiac site to get a idea on the price.

Don't think any 71 through 76 Pontiac engines came with chrome valve covers from the factory, 4 bbl or otherwise. They returned with the 77'-79' "TA 6.6" engine option in 1977 -79

[67Lemons]

My ‘72 GTO didn't come with them and the 400 from the factory.

[unruhjonny]

Originally Posted by steve25

Chrome cover came on ALL 64 to 79 4 bbl or Tripower motors with the exception being the 73/74 SD 455.

Sorry, but I believe you are wrong.

I cannot say for the pre-1967 motors, but for 1967-1970 they came on the GTO 'L78' 400/4bbl (shared with the Firebird 400), and all the 'Ram Air' engines;
All these engines came with a chrome dress up kit, which combined the valve covers and air cleaner lid.

After 1970, the chrome valve covers were no longer factory installed, and were only available over the counter as an accessory item.

Then with the mid-1977 W72 engine option, chrome valve covers came back;
They didn't have the same type of high polished chrome used on the earlier units;
The W72 valve covers had integrated oil drippers, and a (?)pebble finish chrome plating.

To clarify;
Between 1971 & 1976, NO engines left the factory with chrome valve covers.
For 1977 & 1978 the non-W72 engines also did not have chrome valve covers.

Some dealers would prep vehicles with accessories to help make additional sales, so some people may argue till their blue in the face that their (fill in the black) came with chrome valve covers, but they didn't get shipped out that way.

[steve25]

I was just going by what my GM parts sheet says and memory.

[kyle_blake]

So , do we feel mine are now pre 70’s?

[TXSTARFIRE]

Those with the built in oil drippers are from the 70s. Pre 70s had a separate part to direct the oil to the rocker arm pivots.

[b-man]

My ‘76 400 Trans Am came with painted valve covers, with the built-in drippers of course.

The chrome dripper covers came later. The chrome quality on the dripper covers was quite poor compared to the ‘67-‘70 non-dripper ones that are currently reproduced.

I used to buy 455 engines, all were 4-barrel (2-barrel 455s were rare) and not a single one had chrome covers. All were stock original untouched engines.

All of those special round-port ‘71-‘72 455 HO and ‘73-‘74 455 SD engines had painted valve covers not chrome. Those are the ones you certainly would think had the chrome covers but no.

[kyle_blake]

Ok, thanks that makes sense. ON side note, one quick question.

I have some 69 chrome valve covers off a 69 grand prix 360 hp 428 cid that has no drip rails at all, nothing inside them.

I was hoping to try those ones on my #64 heads that have H.S. 1.65 rockers. and chevy screw in studs. hopefully they fit, i feel like changing it up.

I wonder , do people still use cork gaskets? What is the alternative ?

pic is the current ribbed after market type ones on my engine.

thanks again everyone .

[JSuchma]

Originally Posted by kyle_blake

Ok, thanks that makes sense. ON side note, one quick question.

I have some 69 chrome valve covers off a 69 grand prix 360 hp 428 cid that has no drip rails at all, nothing inside them.

I was hoping to try those ones on my #64 heads that have H.S. 1.65 rockers. and chevy screw in studs. hopefully they fit, i feel like changing it up.

I wonder , do people still use cork gaskets? What is the alternative ?

pic is the current ribbed after market type ones on my engine.

thanks again everyone .

I also have a pair of those aftermarket covers......does anyone know who made them? Sorry to change the topic.

[kyle_blake]

i use to be able to find them online, good for cooking hot dogs on... but when i googled it again couldn't find them!

[PontiacHO]

Originally Posted by kyle_blake

Oh hey I got these at garage sale just curious if they are for a 68 firebird and the value of them lately

I went with these. Less likely to leak.

[kyle_blake]

I like those , the hot dogs would fit a lot nicer and better heat marks on them! Right now my grand prix ones are free to try.

[unruhjonny]

Originally Posted by kyle_blake

I have some 69 chrome valve covers off a 69 grand prix 360 hp 428 cid that has no drip rails at all, nothing inside them.

Engines which were assembled before the oil drippers were welded to the valve covers used a separate oil dripper piece which attached to two center head bolts with threaded heads.

It's not uncommon for people to have tossed the oil drippers - so your situation isn't unique.

Originally Posted by kyle_blake

I was hoping to try those ones on my #64 heads that have H.S. 1.65 rockers. and chevy screw in studs. hopefully they fit, i feel like changing it up.

The only variable is how tall those rocker studs are, if standard height valve covers fit, then OE valve covers should fit as well.

Originally Posted by kyle_blake

I wonder , do people still use cork gaskets? What is the alternative ?

There is nothing wrong with cork;
The principal benefit to rubber valve cover gaskets is that they can be re-used.