I bought these valve covers about 6 years ago simply because I thought they were rad. I paid a lot for them. The fella I bought them from didn't know their history, but another gentleman that saw them claimed they were actually part of a limited run of valve covers that Mickey Thompson did in the late 1950's... As elaborate and as expensive as it might sound, he claimed Mickey labeled a few SBCs by way of custom cast valve covers. This set must have been for a high-RPM plant. I've never really put much on the story simply because no one has ever backed it up and I don't think Mickey did a whole lot of SBC endeavors. So, I figured I would ask if any of you fella have seen valve covers such as these. If you have, what's the story?
I should mention... I have seen one set of valve covers that were identical to these only the letters "RPM" were replaced with the letters "TRQ". They weren't for sale or I would have bought them!
Every other SBC powered hot rod in the 1970's had M/T valve covers on it. No reason not to believe you have a rare set of the precursors to those belly****on M/T covers.
Don't know the story on the covers but I've seen a set in the 70's on a friends Chevelle... I'll see if I can find pictures of it...
That would be great! The castings sure do look like something that would have been made in the 1950's. And by that I mean, they are nicer than most of the m*** produced stuff you see from the 70's on up... Curiosity is killing me.
They look early for sure. Reason why I say that is that they appear to be low clearance like the corvette valve covers. Later Chevy VC's normally got taller like Offy's to clear adjustable rockers. Kind of the reason I went with Hildebrandt's. Those though are rad rad rad!!!
There were companies that would cast finned valve covers with whatever letters you wanted on them for a fee, I've seen the ad in vintage 50's magazines. Maybe they're a set of those?
unclescooby mentioned RPM vc's on a thread in 2005... it came up in a search, my memory isnt that good...
Ryan I wish I could give you some insite as to the origins of those covers. They are pretty slick or at least look that way from where I sit. too bad you couldn't get the TRQ set, that would be the tops bro. Then you could mix n match 'em.
I thought you were a v-dub guy at heart, Bob! Air cooled blocks were magnesium! Made a hell of a show at a local vw warehouse when it went up in flames, though... my 3/4 race motor was at the bottom of the pile...hence no mo' vw for slick...
Magnesium VC's were quite common for race cars, a friend has a set of Mag ones that were made by Chapperal for big block Chevy, and as someone else listed - ever seen a VW motor?
Ryan, Do they say anything inside? Such as 265-283 Chevy in a small raised section that was riveted to the form? Thompson did alot with Chevy engines including a DOHC Hemi, indy cars etc. Even the power ram intake series was originally developed due to Thompson playing with low crossover webers and injection for the SBC and 215. The only RPM parts I'm aware of off hand are things such as MPH Hilborn style carb scoops.
I remember seeing a set of those... in your shop! I was trying to stuff each one down a pant leg before you came back with Margaritas.... no luck.
Kinda neat..... Were companies even making "new" valve covers for the "old" staggered SBC heads in the '70's? Gotta be early '60's (or late '50's) stuff.....
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