Technical Traditional looking 426 hemi valve cover options?

Hi, what are some options for a traditional style hot rod look gen 2 hemi valve cover? Available new, or by searching for used. I'm king of thinking cast aluminum or magnesium with fins.

Thanks, Joel

 

Factory black wrinkled are my favorite covers.

 

If the hot street look was what the racers ran, as close to the HAMB era as possible was chrome. I may be wrong, but I don't think there were aluminium finned etc. ones until KB, Milodon aftermarket engines. Or black wrinkle.

 

How about some Mickey Thompsons?

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ey-thompson-hemi-valve-k-head-covers.1262963/

 

The Chrome oe covers pass the 40 Ft "is that a 392 or a 26 motor in that car" test. The black Wrinkle screams late 60's early 70's MT covers are late 60's or later.

 

Hello,

What a surprise that the brother of one of the most famous early drag racers did not want to be completely like his famous brother.

In December of 1959, we filmed Don Garlits at Riverside Raceway in a big Westcoast event. (and a few months later, we filmed the same FED at the Smoker’s March Meet) .
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/early-drag-racing-photos.1222399/page-42#post-14321031


Then the following year, almost the similar looking FED race car appeared at Lion’s Dragstrip and it was brother, Ed Garlits, but the lettering was so close and everything looked the same, except for the color of the Hemi Motor. At first glance, it looked as if Don Garlits came to Lion’s Dragstrip with a new motor replacing his chrome valve cover Hemi motor we saw in earlier, March of 1960.

The most read newspaper for all of drag racing in the USA, Drag News, called it Lions, LADS, or in the results or stories, Long Beach.


Jnaki



Action photo taken from the tower side of Lion’s Dragstrip, March 1960. In those days, the special place to take photos and films was next to the white Pontiac Ambulance, right below the orange tower. Mr. Childers, the driver was a friend and as we talked, we also filmed.
“The brothers” talking to Mr. Childers…

Note:


At first, we thought it was Don Garlits. It was a simple mistake as both Garlits brother’s FED race cars were almost identical. Almost, except for the orange valve cover and motor in Ed Garlits’ build.
Ed Garlits at Lion's Dragstrip in 1960 with narrowed Gilmer Belt drives for a bright orange paint for the valve covers and motor.


Ed Garlits at Lion’s Dragstrip

Ed Garlits in art…

 

The early "K" heads had some light stamped alum. covers. Other than the factory steel units, every other cover I have been around was either cast mag or alum. I had a set of KB's that came off a fuel car that had exploded. The top of the covers were cracked. I pressed them back into shape and welded them up. Then I milled off the ribs and sanded them smooth. That smooth look could be an option.

 

Too modern.

 

Wait, what? You got a 426 HEMI for a hot rod? And an early style rod at that? I dunno bud, but my outlook says anything you want! It was fresh and new in 64, outdated by 71, and this whole 65 and older thing applies in the ads more than anything. Magnesium? Oh, fkn eh. Chrome? Can't go wrong. Black wrinkle with a natural aluminum intake? Can't stand up when the teacher calls your name

It's in your name ffs, so yeah man whatever you find. Ok, just kidding about the name thing but you get it, right? However if you don't show us what you decided you'll be "HEMI Dick" instead...

Just did a quick Google, yeah there's some not so pretty modern options. Yuk. Old finned are not too common, kool tho.

 

I thought Chrysler didn’t start putting them into regular production cars until 1966? 64&65 were race cars only?

 

How about chrome?

 

Buy a pair of aluminum M/T covers then machine/weld so you end up with full ribs (no M/T and no big flat spot ... nothing but ribs).

 

Yup, but it was out. A legend...

 

it's more muscle car than early hot rod

 

As has been said a million times, your money, your car, your choice. The only problem with chrome is the cost and finding a shop to do a good job. I'll stick to black wrinkle.

 

the picture...he already has the chrome valve covers....

 

I do have a couple sets of Chrome ones laying around. And I do like shiny. But I would probably prefer something that doesn't look so stock.
This would be if, and it's a big if at this point, I decide to go back to a Gen 2 Hemi. Obviously I'd be giving up my awesome eight carb set up. So I need to find the right parts to give it a look that makes me happy.

 

. You might be onto something. It would be nice not to have to do too much work.

Something in this style, but without the lettering, and with polish job would suit me I think.

 

Is there a period you're aiming for? 1964? 65? 66? later?

 

I Even though the 426 Hemi wasn't available till 64, I'd still like to keep an early '60s vibe. But I don't know how doable that really is. I just have to look at something and see if I like it.

 

Yes. Badges denoting the street hemi were subtle in the '66 Belvederes: HP2 is all it said, slightly larger than a 318 "V-eight" badge. Wasn't until later that year that they began to put on the garish 426 Hemi badge.

 

I thought it was 66 for production cars and 65 for the homologation run of A990 factory race cars.

 

There were Hemi Dodges and Plymouths in '64

 

You're correct. I knew the Hemi was developed in 64' but was thinking most of them that were made available went to NASCAR and that it wasn't a "public" offering. Here are the actual numbers although they don't differentiate between drag-race and NASCAR. I also suspect that some of the engines used in 1965 model year cars were likely cast in 64'.

The following is the race Hemi production numbers for each year and the vehicle model.

1964: 271

• 1964 Dodge Coronet/330/440: 159
• 1964 Plymouth Belvedere/Savoy: 112

 

but were there any 426 hemis in hot rods back then?

 

Early 331….looked bitchin to me..

 

I used to have a set of “K” heads ,,,with a really nice pair of M/T polished covers,,,,,so they did make them at least at some point in the past .

And,,,,,,the 426 Hemi qualifies as pre 65,,,,,maybe not in great quantities,,,,but they were there .
The entire production run from 64-71 was only about 10,000 units ,,,,and most of those were after about 66 .
One of those is sitting in my basement,,,,cast in late July ,69 .

It doesn’t matter really,,,,,the Mighty Hemi has been the top since the beginning.
In war planes to race cars,,,,,the hemispherical chamber made power .
When Duntov put Hemi heads on the Flathead it added around a 100 HP back then .

But,,Chrysler is the one that made the name a legend,,,,Hemi !
Recognized and respected around the world,,,,,LoL .

Tommy

 

Nobody would dismiss this car from these pages would they?