a crappy picture ...... I would like to see them actually mounted and even more so mounted and in a car
As far as I know I'm the only one that makes finned cast aluminum valve covers for the early Dodge and Desoto Hemis. There's not enough volume for anyone else to consider tooling up for them - you're welcome to spend the 5-10 grand and try to sell them for $99 a pair and break even Even the Mexican's haven't copied them yet. I sell them for $300 unpolished, $400 polished and $475 with matching finned aluminum spark plug wire covers. (Same as our Chryslers) They come with hardware and with seals installed that allow you to use your stock spark plug tubes. I've priced the others and of the 4-5 people making Chrysler valve covers these are the least expensive (and certainly the most traditional looking since they are patterned after the Fenton / Edmunds valve covers made in the 50's.) Of course that doesn't include the Mexican Chrysler valve covers that you can buy on E-Gay that don't fit and are not machined and don't come with seals. Questions? Dennis
No problem. A nicely painted and pinstriped pair of sheetmetal valve vovers look great in my book. You make do with what you can afford and don't get into debt over nice to haves. (Well unless you're the government...) Die cast Chevy valve covers made in China can sell for $89 because they make 5,000 pairs on a run. I'll probably sell my 5,000th pair of DeSoto valve covers right around the time I turn 552 years old at the current rate Like these?
I like the aftermarket v/covers on Hemis. But whats wrong with the DeSoto Firedome/Fireflite stock valve covers which IMO are some of the koolest valve covers on an engine PERIOD. Maybe youre shooting for a race/early 60s / kustom look? I dunno, the the stock ones a super kool to me. And 51 HEMI J, yeah you're a cheap ass lol. HAHA Rat
Chrysler, DeSoto, or Dodge, the stock valve covers look better any day. Unless you have your Hemi in a FED that is....
Hot Head Hemis sell thm for $300 unpolished and $400 polished. They look very nice too. Heres their write up: <TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=0 width="95%" align=center height=107><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Tall - Finned Aluminum Valve Covers - DeSoto </TD></TR><TR><TD height=28 width="39%"> Click photo to enlarge.</TD><TD height=28 colSpan=2>Straight from the past, these tall-finned valve covers use stock spark plug tubes. Available in unpolished and polished finishes.</TD></TR><TR><TD height=16>P/N 21506</TD><TD height=16>Tall - Finned Valve Covers</TD><TD height=16>$ 300.00</TD></TR><TR><TD height=16>P/N 21506P</TD><TD height=16>Tall - Finned Valve Covers - Polished</TD><TD height=16>$ 400.00</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Personally, I like Dennis' valve covers. GOOD quality cast aluminum valve covers are not cheap. Period. If they're cheaper than what Dennis sells them, I would be concerned about quality and fitment. They do more than just cover the rockers. The tubes have to fit and seal correctly.
Ran a blown Desoto in the '60 in a B/FD...ran out of money and sold my chrome valve covers for a few buck....took some stock valve covers and sprayed them crinkle black, really liked them and never went back to the chrome ones.
SORRY, gang. I had to delete and repost, 'cause I said would when I meant wouldn't. Sure changes the meaning! Just my 2 bits, but some guys, used to, wouldn't put the stock wire covers on, maybe because they were afraid it would make it obvious they were running a DeSoto instead of a Chrysler. The DeS Hemis were nothing to be ashamed, even dead stock. The standard Firedome and Fireflite (not the Adventurer) were painted in a cool, soft silver. So when I re-do mine, I'm thinking of cadmium plating to get that same, soft effect. If fancy after-market cast costs $400 and up, I guess that's okay if you have Trump's dough. I'll stick with stock, keep the sparkplug covers and not worry about what anybody says.
Hey, ChopSaw! Ain't the HAMB great??? Yell HELP, and a fellow HAMBer steps right up. Garys a Hemi man all the way.