Hot Rods Clear valve covers

I’ve never seen this before, have you? Currently for sale on the bay.

 

Nothing is new.

 

I think Freiburger did an episode of Engine Masters where they were testing rocker arms and they used a set of em.

 

They won't stay clear for very long if you crank the engine!

 

Cool looking at a show but I don't think I'd dare to drive around with them. Anyone have any actual experience with these?

 

Seems rather "street roddy" for this website?

 

I've seen several sets in use, they usually turn dark yellow looking from the heat/oil cycles, not even really see through anymore.
Goes with your clear distributor cap.

 

One man's "street roddy" is another man's "custom."

 

They were advertised in the magazines around 63/64 when Larry Farris was showing Tempted Once but didn't go over great for the reasons Swade41 mentioned. They got scuzzy on the inside and turned yellow pretty fast if you drove with them on the car very much. I'm not sure that I ever saw a pair in person unless it was at a swap meet.

 

I think Larry eventually replaced them with chrome covers. I don’t remember exactly when though.

 

Years ago I saw a pair for sale at a local auto flea market. I thought they were really cool but, having stock heads and stock rockers at the time, I wasn't interested enough to buy them as I didn't see the point.

Interestingly, within a year or two of seeing them for sale, I ended up installing aluminum heads and roller rockers. I hadn't forgotten those valve covers so, the next time I attended that same flea market, I kept an eye out for them.

Here's where the story turns a bit funny ... I found the valve covers at the same guys table, he still had them. I was at the flea market with my wife ... she had wandered ahead a bit. I asked the seller how much and the price was $90 for the pair. I took a look at them and noticed some slight deformation on the gasket sealing surface on one cover ... obviously caused by heat. At the time, I thought $90 was more than I wanted to spend so I set them down and wandered off, giving myself time to think about them. I caught up to the wife and told her that I had spotted the covers I had spoken of but wasn't too keen on the price.

My wife instantly asked "which table?" She heads straight to it (I doubt 5 minutes had passed since I was there) and proceeds to ask the seller what he wanted for the clear covers. Dude says "I am am asking $80 but I'll take $70" ... she bought them . Sometimes it does pay to marry a hottie

I get them home, install them, fire up the engine and ... UGH , the roller rockers rub the inside of the covers, I can actually see the covers flexing slightly. Crap

I take them off and put them on a shelf in the loft of the garage. They sit there for several years. I finally decide I'll never use them so I put them on eBay and get something like $120 for them

So ... although I did own a set, I am not in a position to comment on their ability to stay clean

 

..............Excellent story though....Picture of smokin' HOT wife/ Top notch negotiator would be appropriate here.

 

Pics from the net. A dude at Carlisle had a set this year, he wanted $300. I thought about it for a little bit. I liked 'em, but not trad enough.

 

I can just tell @Bandit Billy wheels are turning.
“I could chrome my rockers and springs”!!

 

last entry on page 51 of the sohc ford article on the next page

 

Of course not . . . They're practically invisible!

 

They would be nice for breaking in flat tappet cams and lifters.............you could see the metal shavings more quickly before destroying the whole engine.............

 

Parts that were available in 1963 (and likely before) are street roddy?

 

and some LEDS that change color when you rev it up.

 

Back in the early 70's an acquaintance had a set on his SBC race engine. The roller rockers cleared and the stud girdle too. Only problem was condensation would appear and would look like a chocolate milkshake, probably cause no PCV.

 

Put them on something with like 150K miles that only used non detergent oil changed only once (at 500 miles). MMMM, pudding.

 

My guess is that they will end up in the hands of a collector and be displayed on a wall filled up with hop up treasures.

 

^This is why I didn't buy them. A display engine would ensue...

 

Would be cool to show off your "high lift 3/4 race" cam SBC.

 

I couldn't run them, the more parts I see moving the more parts I worry about....


...

 

I wonder how many sets of them @Moriarity has?

 

No room in the cabinets, too many plug wire sets.

 

Good ideas, such as sliced bread, are still around today.........

 

Cheesy, mid century schlock rod stuff, equivalent to today's "Pep Boys" geegaws-now collectible...the decline of western civilization.