Hi I recently buy a pair of Corvette valve covers, they where marked with the name: Lester and a number: 3767493 does any of you guys know if they are a pair of originals or if they are aftermarket. Thanks Mike from Sweden
Thanks for very fast replys, unfortunatley I don´t own a Corvette but at least I got a complete old 327 Corvette engine that I´m gonna put in my Ford Coupe A-V8 Thanks again they will suit the engine well //Mike
Correct for which Corvette? Mike Are they 7 fin or 9 fin? Are the bolt holes in line or staggered flange to flange? Do they have a casting line through the O? Are they later LT-1 style with crossed flags on a round flat pad on one end?
Actually mine came out of a few trucks, a Studebaker, a '62 belaire and most recently a '27 T. LOL @Gman0046 and @Charlie Chops 1940 good info, thanks.
Affirmative The OP said Corvette, I know that you dadgum ninny. Problem is; this blind old bastard didn't see that he included the casting number.
All SBC's are Corvette engines and came out of "my old 57" She'd pull the wheels up 300' down the road. I know it to be true...
A bit off topic, I met Tom Lester (Lester Industries, Bedford, Oh) in the mid 70s. We had 32 Ford roadsters in common, mine was a collection of parts, his was a perfectly restored show car. He offered to sell it to me for $7,500.00. Unfortunately, I lived in an apartment house at that time and management would not let me build an enclosure in the common garage. So I had to pass on the opportunity. Tom had a big collection of antique and classic cars and probably 250 original and restored motorcycles which were hanging from the ceiling of his warehouse like christmas tree ornaments.
According to Google 3767493 was a "Corvette" script valve cover used on 59-67 Corvettes. They were popular back then to make your Impala sourced 283 look like it came out of a Corvette!!!!
"So these valve covers aren't Corvette?" I don't know George, you can still buy them new from Summit. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/NAL-3726086/
I looked at some of the reproduction Vette valve covers, but the castings seemed rough to me.........some had big parting lines on them. I finally had to bite the bullet and buy an original pair on Ebay for $300, but I really am happy I did. (added 50 hp too! ) Don
Back in the early 60's the local Chevy dealer kept at least three sets of Corvette valve covers on the shelf in the parts department at all times in both staggered and straight across bolt patterns. They also had a supply of 30-30 cams on the shelf. It was almost a local rite of passage for young guys who bought a Chevy with a V8 in it to trek down to Fred Beezely Chevrolet and then Pabisz Motors (Fred's son in law) for a set of Corvette valve covers and possibly a cam. each of them ran right at 30,00 and change then.
I scored a nice set of originals (straight bolt) last summer at an estate auction for (real) cheap. Shelved 'em for a future project. Now to decide whether to make 'em pretty like Don did, or leave 'em aged as found. Already have the air cleaner to match... Ran a set on a '62 Impala in the early 80s, but my cousin repossessed 'em when I (like a dummy) sold the car.