Are M/T valve covers traditional?

I want to go with the finned aluminum valve covers on my '70 Olds 350 for a more traditional look. I know it's not a "traditional" engine, but it's what I've got to work with.

Are M/T valve covers traditional? On my research of Mickey Thompson, it's apparent that he died a tragic death, but it was hard to find when they were actually producing this speed equipment. Was it more of a 70's thing?

Are Offy or Holley more traditional?

 

they would be right for a 1970 engine....

 

Does a Bear **** In The Woods ?? Oh yeah it depends on what car that 70 Olds 350 is in !!! >>>>.

 

Which leads to a point I made before about "traditional". What you really want to know is if they would be "period correct" and for one to answer that, they would need to know what period you are after.

 

Well my thought here is, yah, they made them for a 70's engine, but did they produce the same type finned cover (with M/T logo) in the 50's or 60's? The engine is going in my 37 Olds.

 

My MT's came from a '34 Ford Coupe with 283 built in 1965

 

M/T valve covers scream 70's "Muscle Car" with air shocks and N50-15s on deep dish slotted mags to me, no matter what engine it is.

If I had to run that engine, I'd keep it low key with painted valve covers and parts. Nothing wrong with a good running engine in a driving car, but it is what it is.

 

Depends on the valve cover.

I believe these would qualify.





But these... well.... use at your own risk. They run a little too close to mulletville for my taste.

 

You say that like it's a BAD thing????

Bring back Jackrabbits, Jensens, and ******* bars.....

 

Never in the 50s maybe in the late late 60s. They were a big fad that I never cared for. Lots of Cal customs were replaced with MTs to be up to date with the current fad. I can't tell you exactly what year that started.

A decade is a long time and things never stayed stagnant. Pick a specific date in time and then you can make better judgments about parts availability.

 

Yes, fer crisakes.

 

It's a 70 olds engine in a 38 olds mobile. An olds in an olds with period valve covers sounds cool to me. Run it.

 

"They run a little too close to mulletville for my taste".
Gotgas quote....
i would have to agree with Mr. gotgas on that

 

Definitely 70-80s.

 

Did you see the latest Hot Rod? They are bringing it back, I could never afford a cool car back then(or now), I my have to build one some day.
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Yes. On the right car and engine.

 

A 350 Olds isn't exactly traditional, so what does it matter?

If you like them, run 'em.

Oldsmobile 350
Produced from 1968 through 1980, the Rocket 350 was entirely different from the other GM divisions' 350's. It used a 4.057 in (103.0 mm) bore and Oldsmobile small-block standard 3.385 in (86.0 mm) stroke for 350 cubic inches (5.7 L). 1968-1974 350s were painted gold; 1975-1976 350s were metallic blue like the 455; 1977-1980 models were painted GM Corporate Blue. The "Rocket" name disappeared from the air cleaner decal in 1975, the same year that the catalytic converter was added to the emission control systems. Output ranged from 160 to 325 hp (119 to 242 kW). The early Oldsmobile 350s made from 1968 through 1976 are more desirable engines with heavy castings, beefier crankshafts, and better flowing heads. The later 1977 thru 1980 350 had the "lightweight" castings, including a thinner block with large "windows" in the main bearing bulkheads, crack-prone head castings which were actually manufactured by Pontiac Motor Division (castings are marked "PMD"; these heads were also used on the 260), and a lightened crankshaft.

 

I don't recall seeing the bottom style of rocker cover prior to the '70s. Doesn't mean that M/T didn't make them prior to that time, but I don't believe they were popular before the '70s.
I have a set from when they were still made in the USA whenever that was. Would I run them. probably wouldn't give it a second thought. But I don't know that they would count as traditional as we consider traditional.

I'm thinking that Offy's or Cal Customs would better look the part on a trad rod.

 

i love MT valve covers!

 

I'm in favor of jackrabbits. I build them now like I built them then. That's why god created vanilla and chocolate.

 

Mickey Thompson is traditional. Why wouldn't valve covers made by him (his company) be traditional?

 

M/T started making valve covers in the very early 60's.

they come in all fins, fins with thompson, fins with M/T, fins with M/T and the flat surface for breathers, by the bellbottom 70's they started making the now common ones shown above with the knockouts for breathers.

as for what is and is not considered traditional.... who cares?

 

Fords are traditional. Why wouldn't a new Ford be traditional?



fun game, you'll never get everyone to agree

 

When you say traditional, it depends on what era you're referring to. As several others have said, Mickey Thompson was making finned valve covers since the early 60's. So if you're going for a late 60's look, like with some 5-spoke mags, metallic paint, Wide Oval tires or raised white letters, and some other drag racing oriented parts, then yes, the M/T finned valve covers would fit right in. But if you're going for more for a late 50's-early 60's look, then finned aluminum valve covers would be out of place.

 

I had them on my LT1 in 1984 on my 57 Chevy, I have no idea.

 

Musclecar guys were replacing their factory V/C's with M/T's to retain the pcv. Although Cal Custom had a style of cover similar to the M/T-Holley.
If hotrodder's were switching out finned Cal Customs for these, it could have been to add a PCV. It's hard to beat a no-hole, finned Cal Custom when it comes to aftermarket valve covers.

 

Ok no pvc or oil acess hole on these. The back of the cover is cast solids as in No knockouts. Early 60s issue and I like em >>>>.<center>
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On the later style M/T's...whats the purpose of the large rectangular flat area on top?
It always looked to me like something was missing.
Wonder how they would look if you milled the flat area into fins like the rest of the cover....

 

That's where you have your name, or car's name and/or eng displacement engraved/milled into it.

 

Who really cares if it's traditional?

Everything is a repop unless you were there. You can never go back.

You can build something as a period piece, a repop or a recreation or whatever you call it.

If you were alive and had a car in 1965 and have owned it continuosly since then then you could say it was original.

Like Ralph Williams used to say...Factory Air (still in the tires).

Loading up a muscle car or rod with repop stuff doesn't make it original or restored unless they were all OEM and YOM parts.

Build it as you like it and to hell with the the naysayers.