Hot Rods SBC Final Dress Recommendations Help Needed

Vette covers, Vette air cleaner & winters intake always a timeless look

 

^^^^THIS!

I cannot say how many finned V.C.s I have put on engines I have built, but one thing is for sure......I never put a set on without painting the color of the engine between the fins!

@jaracer .....A nailhead is on my bucket list & as of yet have not had a car with one in it, but I would be proud to have mine look like that!

Also love the discussion about fill holes/crankcase ventilation! For the guys who don't like ANY holes in their valve covers....4 wingnuts to take off a V/C & dump the oil in should not be a big deal! I went for years adjusting solid lifters without replacing the gasket (hence the reason for using the cast aluminum V/C). Coming from the racing side of things, venting down into the headers was always my go to.

God Bless & Happy New Year
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

That's only going to exchange air in and out of the valley, not very effective in the grand scheme of things, there's a reason the factory put the breathing on opposed valve covers.

 

Here's a great thread on this topic with lots of pictures:
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/dressing-a-sbc-to-look-more-traditional.1285735/

 

Yup, they look great but you must remember that the crankcase must be vented so if you have a later model engine without a road draft tube port and without an oil fill tube in the intake you will have to run valve covers that have PCV provisions and breather ports.

 

I'm using those currently mangy stamped valve covers with the Chevrolet script on them because the 283 has the staggered bolt pattern. My 7 fin Corvette valve covers are the straight across design. They're going on the 327 that's getting the 462 heads. Haven't decided what intake the 327 will get.

 

Easy there. These are straight across. Still need to paint the 57 2 barrel air filter that should be there instead.

 

That's what I'm talking about! Nice

 

I've got Offy valve covers with breathers on mine and like the look a lot.

 

^Run 'em like that. Nice, even wrinkle finish! Did you do that yourself?

 

Glue cork gaskets to the cast valve covers and smear a bit of grease on the gasket before bolting down the valve covers. Ran the valves after about 2 feature races. I think I used one set of gaskets for about 5 years with no problem. Only changed them because I thought they were old enough.

 

@Little AH , I'd keep the headers dark and hammer tone/wrinkle the air filter, like you did the valve covers.

The heads and intake etc.provide the bling.

Just one opinion.

 

I like it, moving in the right direction. Headers? Well white, of course. Adding wrinkle, either the dome or the surround of the air cleaner would be kool. I'm thinking surround and leave the dome center chrome. U any good with tape?

Quick edit, I'm just itching to take a smooth flat file to those fins...

 

Yes, that was my initial plan. Somewhere along the way I seconded guessed myself. It happens

 

Love white headers…. But not against a grey block and heads.

That’s wild. I’d never thought of leaving just the dome shinny. Cool I’m gonna write that one down.

 

Thanks! Starting to shape up. No it was a local powder coating. They did a great job.

 

Why were the photos deleted this time ???

Hard to identify what needs changed when you can't see the subject matter !

 

Moriarity is correct. Deleted by me this time… making revisions and will post when done! Thank you all for the input. The HAMB never lets me down.

Happy New Year to all!

 

Went with the just removed from a wrecked Vette in 1967 look. Easy to keep clean too.

 

A "vintage" SBC, real or fake, should have an intake with a oil fill tube in my opinion. I got a deal on a Performer RPM that had the pad for one so I made the hole and installed one. My old M/T valve covers didn't have the holes knocked out and I don't want to since that was the main reason I bought them.


Gary

 

I agree. The intake on mine just had a pad. I had to drill the hole. I used a Fostner bit, went slow, lots of lube, and finally broke through. Then I put a PVC valve just behind the carb. Works good so far.

 

I ran the no breather M/T covers on my J with just the vented oil tube in the intake, I was shifting at 6200 rpm and it started pushing oil out the seals, changed valve covers back to ones with breathers and oil leak stopped.
So just keep an eye on things if you start horsing the car around.

 

To dress up an engine, grind off the excess casting flash. I wouldn't go as far as a totally smooth block since I'm not that fussy.

 

The ones on my 55 Cameo are "as cast". I'd like to polish them but have been too lazy so far. LOL! My 55 210 sedan has Cal Customs. Both have one-piece Eelco wing bolts.

 

If anyone is looking for some finned covers for some reason Autozone has these for $32 when everyone else is asking over $170. Holley 241-240

 

Here’s my 300$ Craigslist 283 with swapmeet dress up goodies

 

This is a '64 283 block that I bought cheap. It's in the machine shop now. I wanted to "save" it and replace the 305 in my '36 Ford pickup. I'll be able to run these no-hole Cal Customs then. They're staggered hole, but I have adapters for straight across heads. Probably with a C3BX intake thats on the 305 now.

Gary