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Hot Rods M/T valve covers seem kinda cool again.

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Rocky, Apr 13, 2019.

  1. Hot Rods Ta Hell
    Joined: Apr 20, 2008
    Posts: 4,670

    Hot Rods Ta Hell
    Member

    No hate Rocky, but I'll be the first to say I never cared for them and still don't. Same goes for slotted dish mags-can't stand them. IMHO, the blank canvas nameplate on M/T's kills them. FWIW, I don't think I've ever seen anything engraved on them that adds to the engine. It's always something obvious like "396 BBC" or "Big John's 55 Chevy". The blanked out oil filler/breather bosses break up the design too. I'm real picky about valve covers and peeve when they have added breathers and fill caps. I prefer a straight, uninterrupted, logo'd, finned cover such as Edelbrock, Weiand, Corvette, etc.

    I like these early Thompson's;

    [​IMG]
     
  2. vtx1800
    Joined: Oct 4, 2009
    Posts: 1,709

    vtx1800
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I sold my SBC M/T valve covers at the Greenfield Ia swap meet years ago, no regrets other than for the little money I got out of them they'd have made great wall hangers, to me they scream 70's.
     
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  3. Hot Rods Ta Hell
    Joined: Apr 20, 2008
    Posts: 4,670

    Hot Rods Ta Hell
    Member

    An oddball; said to have been cast by M/T for Edelbrock before Edelbrock opened their new foundry? Ughh

    [​IMG]
     
    enloe, loudbang and Deuces like this.
  4. I found a pair of early Pontiac, Thompson, no M on them, valve covers several years ago. I gave them to the late Billy Mocarsky for his super duty Catalina. He was very happy as they were period correct for his car.
     
  5. I was at an old boys spread near Sacramento buying some parts, he's in his 80's, and he had a collection of about 10' of MT valve covers hanging from the rafters. He said there are over a hundred different sets of valve covers made by MT.
     
  6. I kinda like 'em. :rolleyes: Or maybe I'm a mental case::confused::)
    sbc mt vcs.jpg vc 03.JPG vc 04.JPG
     
  7. The great thing about polishing aluminum is you get to do it again...
     
  8. 19Eddy30
    Joined: Mar 27, 2011
    Posts: 2,314

    19Eddy30
    Member
    from VA

    Sbc & Bbc guy
    On sbc like calcustom no holes
    Bbc M/T or Calcustom
    Hemi M/T
     
    CudaChick1968, Just Gary and Deuces like this.
  9. 19Eddy30
    Joined: Mar 27, 2011
    Posts: 2,314

    19Eddy30
    Member
    from VA

    Magnesium!!!! Now thats Pain in A$$
     
  10. 19Eddy30
    Joined: Mar 27, 2011
    Posts: 2,314

    19Eddy30
    Member
    from VA

    AB340261-645F-42E8-930B-E2F310A9A427.jpeg 47F87543-7178-49CA-9F62-7766C2802F5B.jpeg
     
  11. lumpy 63
    Joined: Aug 2, 2010
    Posts: 2,603

    lumpy 63
    Member

    Got em on my 37, milled off the MT and installed moon breathers . I bought a set of really nice no hole MTs for my bud Butch's 41 willys at the CHRR a few years back , I keep bustin his balls cause he hasn't put em on yet...I think he cuddles with them at night:confused:
     
  12. How can you just come back to M/T, you should've never left the best valve cover ever !
    I love them and own several sets from early to late style, breathers, intake and even put a set on my bike, can't get enough of them !
    Sorry got carried away, but I have plenty more
    20180216_202728.jpg 20150131_212343.jpg 20151007_172125.jpg 20141208_152725.jpg 20190309_111127.jpg 20190415_005114.jpg 20180116_195923.jpg 20171108_202048.jpg 20151017_132354-1-1.jpg 20180913_141417.jpg
     
  13. Awh man, to bad someone drilled them for breathers, I know a guy with a big block set like these, right up there with the Thompson cover for rarity.
     
    loudbang likes this.
  14. 41rodderz
    Joined: Sep 27, 2010
    Posts: 6,540

    41rodderz
    Member
    from Oregon

    I like a couple of M/T styles in wheel centers . M/T, Weiand and Holley valve covers never did float my boat. Finned Edelbrocks look period correct the other 3 dare I say , look '70s street rod
     
  15. They didn't look 70's street rod when they were doing 400+ mph at Bonneville in the mid 60's, Mickey Thompson was all about pushing the envelope not sitting on mohair in the slow lane.
     
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  16. karl share
    Joined: Nov 5, 2015
    Posts: 115

    karl share
    Member

    I have them on my old ski boat. IMG_0211.JPG
     
    enloe, CudaChick1968, scott27 and 3 others like this.
  17. I also like the older valve covers better.
    I have a set on my 428CJ
    I also have them for my Ford 302 that is in pieces right now.
    I have the old style Edelbrock covers, that I bought for my big block, but the left side wouldn't fit because it contacted the firewall on my 55 Cameo. I was forced to use the stock, chromed, big block valve covers.
    Bob
     
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  18. blue 49
    Joined: Dec 24, 2006
    Posts: 1,820

    blue 49
    Member
    from Iowa

    I never cared for them all that much, then saw a pair for sale that hadn't had the breather holes knocked out and had to buy them. They look good on my 327. 010.JPG
    Gary
     
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  19. Black_Sheep
    Joined: May 22, 2010
    Posts: 1,446

    Black_Sheep
    Member

    I have a wrinkle finish set for a BBC, maybe I should clean them up and use them as garage art...
     
  20. 31hotrodguy
    Joined: Oct 29, 2013
    Posts: 2,698

    31hotrodguy
    Member

    IMG_0001.JPG
    The M/T are cool and I have had a few but as for Pontiac I have always kinda like these one. Got them at Pomona about 25 yrs ago when tradition was cool yet.


    Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  21. Corn Fed
    Joined: May 16, 2002
    Posts: 3,278

    Corn Fed
    Member

    I bought a pair of BBC M/T covers at a swap meet a few years ago just for the Offy breathers that were on them. But after having them a while, I think I like 'em and plan to put them on the 454 going into my 65 Chevelle.
     
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  22. dumprat
    Joined: Dec 27, 2006
    Posts: 3,479

    dumprat
    Member
    from b.c.

    Just out of curiosity how old are the covers with just "Thompson" on them? Have a pair of headlight stands with that casting.
     
    Deuces likes this.
  23. wheeltramp brian
    Joined: Jun 11, 2010
    Posts: 2,551

    wheeltramp brian
    Member

    I've got 2 pairs of the early Thompson vc for pont.i think they are late 50's early 60's.they were on challenger 1 in 1960
     
    CudaChick1968, 31hotrodguy and Deuces like this.
  24. badvolvo
    Joined: Jul 25, 2011
    Posts: 471

    badvolvo
    Member

    I love those MT valve covers. Too bad they won't clear my rather large BBC valve springs. So I have an extra set for a bbc with oil drippers.
     
    Deuces likes this.
  25. Malcolm
    Joined: Feb 9, 2006
    Posts: 8,032

    Malcolm
    Member
    from Nebraska

    I drove a '64 Ford Galaxie in high school (mid-'90s) -- It had M/T valve covers on the 390 when I bought the car. I never cared for them much at the time, but definitely run them now.
     
    Deuces likes this.
  26. Moselli
    Joined: Feb 16, 2009
    Posts: 107

    Moselli
    Member

    Back in the good ole' days, (1970) when we were racing Asphalt Modifieds here in the Northeast, the hot set up was a Big Block Chevy motor. With a stock solid lifter cam, setting the valve lash was a necessity before each race.

    The stock tin valve covers were the first thing you removed and threw down over the bank behind the racecar shop. You then went out and bought a set of Mickey Thompson aluminum valve covers, which were sold on almost every street corner in America. They were even carried in some grocery stores, usually in the patio and garden section.

    After finding out that the rubber valve cover gaskets that came with the covers were completely worthless, you threw these down over the bank and went to Honest Charlie's and bought a set of old school thick cork gaskets which when glued to the M/T covers would withstand many, many cycles of removal and installation.

    In addition to stopping the massive oil leakage that the BBC was known for, it is rumored but not confirmed that if the covers were highly polished they shaved lap times due to their sleek aerodynamic design.....

    Moselli
     
  27. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,625

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    I set up my black '27 T hiboy roadster with my 4 carb flathead, but my Chrysler 354 hemi went in on the same mounts. 4 carb inline Horne intake and M/T covers on hemi, two Ford 6 cyl. water pumps made hemi look like a giant flathead...Especially when John Lyons milled off the M/T and replaced it with fins connecting.
    Large electrical 12 port plug @ firewall made for quick engine changes, I could do a quick '50s nite cruise w/flathead, back to shop where wife and I would drain coolant, remove T shell/radiator, uncouple flathead, replace it with Hemi. Back to '50s nite, blew some minds...others didn't even notice. All this in just over 2 hours!
    Most loved it...Tom Prufer said it was 'blasphemous' removing the M/T from sacred valve covers. Tom was probably right...
     
    CudaChick1968 likes this.
  28. Jeff J
    Joined: Mar 15, 2007
    Posts: 961

    Jeff J
    Member

    Those look like CP products Sold them back in the 80's in the shop
     
  29. Mr T body
    Joined: Nov 2, 2005
    Posts: 2,228

    Mr T body
    Alliance Vendor
    from BHC AZ

    The same molds produced "A/FX" (JC Penney house brand) covers.
    Changing inserts was a common thing with M/T, Holley, Hardin Marine, etc all having the same base cover.
     
  30. Corn Fed
    Joined: May 16, 2002
    Posts: 3,278

    Corn Fed
    Member

    That's funny. A hot rodder, who by definition modifies cars, is saying it's too bad that another hot rodder modified an item specifically made to modify a car.
     

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