History HELP... Trying to identify Hildebrandt center bolt valve covers

I posted a thread on identifying these valve covers awhile back and everyone said they were 303 Olds. I sold them to a customer and he says they don't fit. I'm refunding his money and he's returning the covers. He's a very well known figure here, and knows his stuff on Olds motors, so I don't doubt his word at all.

My question is: What engines from the late 40's to the early 50's used center bolt valve covers? These have a bolt spacing of 10 3/16". Olds 303 are 10 3/8".

Can you guys measure your valve covers and tell me your bolt spacing? I'm selling these and don't want to make another mistake identifying them. Thanksabunch for your help. Larry


http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2158329&d=1394926511

 

don't know why the picture ended up like that, but just click on it to see the valve covers...

 

Here is the picture, I don't know why it works for me but not for you?

looks like olds

 

What is the width of the gasket surface (side to side)?

 

The valve covers are 21 1/4" long and 5" wide, outside flange to outside flange.

edit...they might be 20 1/4" long...I can't remember...I don't have the covers back yet to measure for sure.

 

how about these?

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=7536754#post7536754

 

Those do look exactly like mine Jim. I wonder if mine could be early 1949 Cadillac 331? Does anyone have an early Cad 331 cover to measure the bolt spacing?

 

Stude by chance??

pdq67

 

Looks like the Hildebrandt's have closer spacing in that picture.
Or maybe it's just the perspective.

I thought Caddy had 4 mounting holes around the cir***ference of the covers?

Studebaker's are a lot farther apart.

Pic from F&J

 

EARLY Cad 331 had 2 center bolts.

 

Learning something new every day...

I checked all my Olds valve covers. They measure 10 3/8.

 

Was it early in the 1949 Model year? I'm asking because I have owned several '49s and they all had the mounting holes on the cir***ference and not in the center.

 

Those are for Early in the year 1949 Cadillac 331 I think

 

No ****! I never knew that!!

 

Thanks for the pic dreddy. The bolt spacing doesn't look like my valve covers...too wide?

 

It might be, I wonder if you do have Olds covers, just not for 303. Might be 324? I remember there being some really subtle differences between a couple of the Olds motors...

 

I checked my 303, 324 and 371 valve covers, and they are all 10 3/8 hole spacing.

3wLarry, what does the gasket surface look like? is there one side (up) that has a bigger radius than the other?


This picture actually shows them upside down.

 

Martin, from the bottom, they look like sbc valve covers...all radius are equal. I'm thinking they are Olds, but just a really lousy casting. The bolt holes don't line up correctly, and the flange doesn't match up with a 303 Olds head very well.

Somebody HAS to know what these go to! ***us has a set identical to these and he says they are Olds...wish he'd throw a pic up of his.

 

Buick nailhead?

 

The spacing on a nailhead looks farther apart. I'll toss this out there - how about gen1 Rambler - 250, 287, 327?

 

believe it or not, I was just looking at a 1957 Rebel 327 engine while searching earlier today and thought the valve cover bolt spacing looked similar. But why would Hildebrandt make 327 Rambler valve covers?
Were they a popular engine in the 50's?

 

I think the 57 Rebel was pretty hot at the time. There's a thread about identifing the Gen1 stuff on here somewhere.

 

here's an AMC 327

 

ok, just found out from jrsiron that early '49 Cad 331's are 14" bolt center to bolt center.

Anyone got a AMC 327 valve cover to measure the bolt centers? I'm going to keep after this if it's the last thing I do!

 

A lot of people found out you didn't mess with a 270hp 327 rambler.

 

what he said ^^^^^^^ ....

 

bttt and check this thread out:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=407111

 

Ford y-block?

 

interesting...the bolt spacing might be close...anyone got a 327 AMC valve cover handy?

 

My 1960 292ci has a bolt spacing of 13 3/8"...