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? ID make of finned sb Chevy valve covers ?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by al8apex, Jan 8, 2011.

  1. al8apex
    Joined: May 9, 2010
    Posts: 173

    al8apex
    Member

    Just found these today.

    These are HEAVY cast aluminum and it is cast rough on the underside with absolutely no markings, numbers, etc

    any clue to who made them?

    They are the early staggered style

    Thanks for any input

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  2. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 23,753

    Deuces

    Looks like they were made for a 283 "Fuelie" motor.. I could be wrong...
     
  3. KoolKat-57
    Joined: Feb 22, 2010
    Posts: 3,073

    KoolKat-57
    Member
    from Dublin, OH

    Early Cal Custom?
     
  4. fleetside66
    Joined: Nov 20, 2006
    Posts: 3,003

    fleetside66
    Member

    They really have the look of Cal Customs. But, Cal Customs normally have the name & model stampings inside. Regardless, very nice set.
     

  5. I was thinking the same thing. I don't recall seeing Cal Custom covers that weren't maorked inside but I haven't seen everyone ever made and they sure look Cal Custom.
     
  6. CR1193
    Joined: Nov 6, 2010
    Posts: 91

    CR1193
    Member
    from Tennessee

    Yeah, looks like Cal-Custom, I've got a set of non staggered hole somewhere. Those would be for 265 or early 283 chevys.
     
  7. willowbilly3
    Joined: Jun 18, 2004
    Posts: 4,356

    willowbilly3
    Member Emeritus
    from Sturgis

    I have a set of staggered hole cal customs and those you have are different.
     
  8. 296 V8
    Joined: Sep 17, 2003
    Posts: 4,666

    296 V8
    BANNED
    from Nor~Cal

  9. propwash
    Joined: Jul 25, 2005
    Posts: 3,857

    propwash
    Member
    from Las Vegas

    I second the MOON id....curved on end...fins very close to edge and Cal Customs were not this substantial in their construction (material thickness).

    dj
     
  10. al8apex
    Joined: May 9, 2010
    Posts: 173

    al8apex
    Member

    these are substantial in weight, they weigh 4 2/3 pounds each!

    the inside of them is rough casting, no marks ... zip, nada

    Edelbrock, Fenton, Moon, Edmunds, Offenhauser, Stelling & Hellings, Cal Custom and others all made cast aluminum stuff back then, just trying to narrow down the field. A lot of the big names wanted their name on their products, so maybe Cal Custom is a good guess, most of the stuff they did was without a name on the outside of the part ...

    the OEM Corvette Fuelie valve covers that GM made had notched clearance on the driver's side to clear the throttle body and the air cleaner.

    just looked at an old Cal Custom die cast foot pedal and they have their name on the back :

    [​IMG]

    ... but it is a die cast part and not a sand cast part as these covers appear to be

    I am guessing these are true 50's era parts, just not sure about their birth company

    Again, thanks for all your ideas
     
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2011
  11. Richard Head
    Joined: Feb 19, 2005
    Posts: 535

    Richard Head
    Member

    They are early Cal Customs. The first ones were sand cast with the outer fins being interrupted by the bolt holes. The later ones were all diecast which had the part numbers inside them and un-interrupted fins (maybe one less fin?). There are other threads on here addressing this.

    Dave
     
  12. pretty nice shape-good find-
     
  13. tommy
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 14,757

    tommy
    Member Emeritus

    [​IMG]
    They are not Cal Customs. These are Cal customs. Notice these have 6 fins. All the fins run uninterrupted from end to end.

    [​IMG]

    My set of the 7 fin variety with the fins broken up for the hold down bolts on my roadster . A vendor told me years ago their name but I didn't write it down. He had a set and thought that they were hard to find $$. That was before Vintage speed started to reproduce them. I wish I could remember their name. This vendor specialized in old hotrod parts and seemed to know his shit. Most vendors I don't trust.:D He said if they had 7 fins they were XXXX if they had 6 fins they were Cal custom.

    [​IMG]

    Just to confuse the issue even more...these are later model Cal Customs I took these off to use my unnamed 7 finners.:D
     
  14. al8apex
    Joined: May 9, 2010
    Posts: 173

    al8apex
    Member

    Weiand-Eelco-Speed Gems-Almquist- JC whitney--Western Dual ???

    The vintage site calls their repros LIKE the Cal Customs ... :

    "Small block Chevy-Reproduction valve covers from VINTAGE SPEED A heavy cast alum. cover like the Cal Custom made in the early 60's. No cheap pot metal or thin die cast alum. here. This is the most popular hot rod valve cover ever made. Fins go all the way down the sides and are highlight polished. True Nostalia for your 50's-60's style rod."

    [​IMG]

    except their repops are for the straight bolt holes ...

    the angle of these on the ends seem less "square" than others I have seen ...

    [​IMG]

    so maybe EARLY Cal Customs or Moon or Iskendarian or ????
     
    Last edited: Jan 9, 2011
  15. Mr. Gasket mabey....!
     
  16. CR1193
    Joined: Nov 6, 2010
    Posts: 91

    CR1193
    Member
    from Tennessee


    I second this, as I stated in a earlier post, just didn't get this technical.

    If you will notice on the gas pedal it also has JAPAN on it, most all later productions were like this. Some good ole cheap casting overseas!!!!
     

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