Opinions on these Vintage Pontiac valve covers for my coupe

Awesome

 

Funny, I remember a big article in SS/DI when the Doug Nash pontiac tunnel rams came out. I'll see if I can find that issue. IRRC, it was in 1974...

 

Anybody have an idea what vintage these rocker covers are from? I would think were cast after these with Thompson at the bottom. They appear to be mostly from the same casting.

 

You mean this style? There's no doubt that they were the pre-runner for the early M/T covers like I have, and appears to be the start of the whole M/T line since Mickey thompson was a Pontiac guy. I have a feeling the the early M/T covers came before the offys as well.

Many people didn't realize that Mickey was producing Hemi heads, etc for Pontiacs back in the day as well.

 

Yep that is the one. That is the next set I need to get, or at least one.

 

I prefer the style of the Offys, but Poncho and M/T are synonymous.

 

It's still nice to see from the 2nd photo what Mickey could get Pontiac to do or maybe what he modified? I've seen pics of those heads before with the angled plugs, who knows what else was differant.

 

I missed a set on ebay last year. About the same as the early M/Ts - over $500

The Thompsons would be my first choice but you never see them..

 

Not sure what you mean here. I think you are saying that the M/T covers are too modern and the Offys can still be had new?

If that is what you are saying, then I agree that the "common" Pontiac M/T covers are WAY too common for me to use on this car, but the M/T covers I am showing are super rare - anybody but a Pontiac guy won't notice the difference, and most Pontiac guys have never even seen the early version like I'm talking about.

As far as the Offys, they may still be available new, but they are also very seldom seen. I've been into Pontiacs for over 20 years and haven't seen many.

Care to clarify? I really don't understand what you are saying here.

 

Yea me too. I am not normally a big M/T rocker cover fan, they normally look boxy to me but those are nice. Run 'em.

 

Offy covers on my 347 Pontiac in a 27 T Modified.

 

I vote for the M/T's .
Years ago at a swap I picked up a set of #16 heads, and they had those covers on them.The guy said he'd throw the covers in for another $100. I foolishly mistook them for the more common square shaped ones and didn't give them a second look. I turned them down without even noticing.
It wasn't until many years later I saw a set of those and it dawned on me!
I still have the heads, and they still don't have valve covers

 

The last set I saw went for $490 on ebay about a year ago...

By contrast, I've sold several sets of the common ones for $70 with a fresh bead blast. They have been going up as well bcause I used to be able to pick them up at car swaps for $15 - $25 a set, giving me a little room to make a buck. Now I don't see them for less than $45 a set.

 

No disrespect Algon, but I don't understand either?

 

Liquid lunch?

 

I did some polish work on my new treasures. The oxidation was real bad, not to all the scratches. These castings are full of pits and real wavie in places. No I will not trade them for anything. Please note I'm not a pro at polishing aluminum. The pictures are in order as they were produced to the best of my knowledge? That is saying alot! Thompson were the early casting? Years produced? M/T nearly identical to the first? Years produced? This is my as bought, then polished rocker covers. How did I do? Lastly the run of the mill everybody has a set.

 

Algon..thanks for teh history...I have two sets of the early M/Ts and didn't know they were '64 only. Still looking for a set of "thompson" covers, so if yo ever get tired of looking at yours, let me know..


Here is a pair of Moons from present day. They are supposed to be the same as what Moon sold in the 60s, but I wasn't there, so I don't know for sure...



-Abone.

 

ALGON!
Thanks for s**** feeding me! I'm a slow learner! Don't expect to s**** me in we ever meet!!! This a great forum for infomation on things that we don't know. So the THOMPSON covers were re-pop in the 80s? Interesting!

 

1) The s**** feed was tasty, however I now need to be burped

2) Interesting stats on the early Thompson/MT covers - although they are both rare as hen's teeth, I've personally seen less of the Thompson ones.

3) Even more interesting stats on the Offys - definately more common than the early M/Ts, but still rarely seen... Must all be sitting on shelves out there.

4) As far as the most common Pontiac AL covers covers out there go, I would have put the late M/T as the most common, followed by the Cal Custom.

5) Care to elaborate on the differences in the "late" M/T cover variations? Any difference in underside markings?

 

1) I remember the days before the internet/ebay made it easier to get some of the really rare stuff and the only real choice in Pont covers was late style M/T, Edelbrock Elite series, and the somewhat rarer cal Custom. Now there are so many cool options that I now have more cool covers than I have cars to put them on...

2) Nice air cleaners - I have a set as well sitting on my Doug Nash tunnel ram. Got them from the guy on here?

 

Diggin up old posts. Found another set of these M/T Pontiac rocker covers. Anybody have a set of the earlier THOMPSON covers they want to trade?

 

Both the Offy and MT names are steeped in the history of our sport, I think I'd remove the blue paint on the MT's and change them out on a monthly basis. By the way, you mentioned a Doug Nash intake. Is that correct ? Never knew Nash to build anything but transmissions.

 

Yes, Doug Nash - I believe they were contracted by Pontiac to do the design, etc in the beginning. Very early ones are magnesium and worth a small fortune. The AL ones are worth a lot as well. Later they were made by another company and said S&K on them. Eventually bought out and sold through Warrior Racing Products. I have an early AL Nash one in very rough casting, and also have a Warrior one with modern looking texture.

 

Here's a rare set of aluminum early 60's Weiand valve covers. Hardly ever seen. Bought my first set in the early 60's and got lucky enough to find another set.

 

I would say the M/T covers. I really like the Weiand ones shown also. But I am partial to Weiand equipement.

 

Any chance you have a set of these valve covers for sale or know where I can find some?
Thanks, Patrick.