350 HP valve covers?
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 21
From: Texas
350 HP valve covers?
I got my car delivered this morning!!
I had to leave for work as soon as we got it off the trailer, so I didn't get a chance to get any pictures yet, I will soon, but I had a question about the engine from the short glance I got at it.
It has chrome valve covers that are stamped "350 High Performance", with crossed checkered flags on each side of the 350.
Looks like it had some red paint on it in some places.
I've looked at a LOT of Olds pictures in the last few weeks and never seen this and I'm not finding anything on google or searching this site.
Anyone ever seen these? Are they factory or aftermarket? If factory, does it mean anything or just on there to look cool?
(I know, I know, I'll post a picture of it when I get home and see if I can find any numbers anywhere!!
just thought it might jog someone's memory!)
Ha! found a pic from the for sale ad
I had to leave for work as soon as we got it off the trailer, so I didn't get a chance to get any pictures yet, I will soon, but I had a question about the engine from the short glance I got at it.
It has chrome valve covers that are stamped "350 High Performance", with crossed checkered flags on each side of the 350.
Looks like it had some red paint on it in some places.
I've looked at a LOT of Olds pictures in the last few weeks and never seen this and I'm not finding anything on google or searching this site.
Anyone ever seen these? Are they factory or aftermarket? If factory, does it mean anything or just on there to look cool?
(I know, I know, I'll post a picture of it when I get home and see if I can find any numbers anywhere!!
just thought it might jog someone's memory!)Ha! found a pic from the for sale ad
Last edited by Hosskix; Mar 22, 2011 at 09:49 AM. Reason: added picture
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 21
From: Texas
Yeah, I knew there were differences.
Just kinda wondering how y'all knew so fast, from one little glance at a crappy photo.
Baby steps guys, I'm a newbie.
How can you tell the cover is an Olds cover, from the bolt pattern or just the number of bolts?
And I guess from this reaction, that it's unusual and that y'all don't know if it means anything or not? 
I'll take unusual, I've been accused of being that for years.
Just kinda wondering how y'all knew so fast, from one little glance at a crappy photo.
Baby steps guys, I'm a newbie.
How can you tell the cover is an Olds cover, from the bolt pattern or just the number of bolts?
I'll take unusual, I've been accused of being that for years.
Connoisseur d'Junque
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 21,183
From: The Hudson Valley
The crossed checkered flags were a Ch--y trademark in the fifties and sixties (mostly Corvette, but I think they showed up on displacement insignia on a few front fenders - mid-sixties 327s if I recall). I don't know if they were a literal trademark, but they were pretty much monopolized by that division.
An Olds valve cover with that logo is a bit of a curiosity - I'd bet they were a "Made in Japan" JC Whitney bolt-on from the mid-sixties to early seventies.
Kinda neat and definitely unusual.
- Eric
An Olds valve cover with that logo is a bit of a curiosity - I'd bet they were a "Made in Japan" JC Whitney bolt-on from the mid-sixties to early seventies.
Kinda neat and definitely unusual.
- Eric
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 361
From: New Hampshire
^What he said......up there......chinesium.....
Just telling the Engine size not HP
You can get them for 400 or 455 also with matching air cleaner.
http://compare.ebay.com/like/2502960...Types&var=sbar
Just telling the Engine size not HP
You can get them for 400 or 455 also with matching air cleaner.
http://compare.ebay.com/like/2502960...Types&var=sbar
Registered
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,430
From: Northeast Ohio
Furd used crossed racing flags on a ton of stuff too.
Among other things the oil fill tube is a dead giveaway that it's an Olds engine.
Is that a Chebby carb?, shouldn't the fuel line inlet be in the front on an Olds?
What's that deal Tee'd off the PCV hose too??
New old cars are so much fun.
Among other things the oil fill tube is a dead giveaway that it's an Olds engine.
Is that a Chebby carb?, shouldn't the fuel line inlet be in the front on an Olds?
What's that deal Tee'd off the PCV hose too??
New old cars are so much fun.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 20
From: Northern California
I remember seeing guys sell these type of valve covers in the late 90's at swap meets. Definitely aftermarket, definitely tacky (even for the 1990's). They are cheap Chinese made chrome valve covers. They usually had them for every make and engine type.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 21
From: Texas
Just kidding, tacky or not, I'll keep them for a while, I"m a long way from engine work, it seems to be fine and I've got interior and body work to keep me busy and broke!
(You're right bye the way about them being cheap, found some on ebay for 45 bucks.)
Oh, and Bluevista, I got home and it has an eldelbrock carb on it.
Everything is too clean and has black paint, they've either done some work or have just clean, painted and changed all the hoses to make it look like they've done some work.
Either way, I'm happy so far!
I will work on some numbers and figure out just what it is that I have.
Thanks a lot guys!
Just an Olds Guy
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 24,528
From: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
As long as you're happy with it. BTW, to my untrained eye it also looks like the PCV is in the wrong place. Should be smack dab in the middle of the VC, not at the front. My guess is that whoever modified the VC also changed the position of the PCV hole. Oh, one other thing; 350 high performance doesn't mean 350 hp.
Registered User
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,212
From: USA
Aftermarket
They are Motorchrome triple plated Oldsmobile aftermarket valve covers.
I bought a set for my Olds 350 2 years ago. Got the triple plated long bolts as well.
http://www.motorchrome.com/servlet/t...cle-car/Detail
Not the cheap single layer chrome that's on most aftermarket valve covers by
Edelbrock or Moroso that pit and rust outside after 1 season. These are made better.
That Edelbrock air cleaner has been tossed as well.
NewEngineChrome3.jpg
I bought a set for my Olds 350 2 years ago. Got the triple plated long bolts as well.
http://www.motorchrome.com/servlet/t...cle-car/Detail
Not the cheap single layer chrome that's on most aftermarket valve covers by
Edelbrock or Moroso that pit and rust outside after 1 season. These are made better.
That Edelbrock air cleaner has been tossed as well.
NewEngineChrome3.jpg
Last edited by Aceshigh; Mar 22, 2011 at 08:26 PM.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 20
From: Northern California
They are Motorchrome triple plated Oldsmobile aftermarket valve covers.
I bought a set for my Olds 350 2 years ago. Got the triple plated long bolts as well.
http://www.motorchrome.com/servlet/t...cle-car/Detail
Not the cheap single layer chrome that's on most aftermarket valve covers by
Edelbrock or Moroso that pit and rust outside after 1 season. These are made better.
That Edelbrock air cleaner has been tossed as well.
I bought a set for my Olds 350 2 years ago. Got the triple plated long bolts as well.
http://www.motorchrome.com/servlet/t...cle-car/Detail
Not the cheap single layer chrome that's on most aftermarket valve covers by
Edelbrock or Moroso that pit and rust outside after 1 season. These are made better.
That Edelbrock air cleaner has been tossed as well.
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,790
From: McMurray, PA
Registered User
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,212
From: USA
Most of your swap meet chrome stuff can't hack the elements and will rust out and pit within one season outdoors.
These are cheap chrome pieces. These valve covers I bought have been outdoors for 2 seasons and no signs of pitting at all.
Better quality overall. Edelbrocks never make it past 1 season outdoors here without pitting.
The most important issue for durable chrome plating for outdoor exposure such as on a vehicle is that it should have at least two layers of nickel plating before the chrome: namely semi-bright nickel followed by bright nickel. The reason for this involves galvanic corrosion issues. The bright nickel is anodic to the semi-bright nickel, and sacrificially protects it, spreading the corrosion forces laterally instead of allowing them to penetrate through to the steel. OEMs demand very close control of this factor, and there is a test (the Chrysler developed STEP test) which large shops run daily to insure the right potentials. Careful control of this issue is probably the principal reason that today's chrome plating greatly outlasts the chrome plating of earlier times. If a restoration shop offers only single layer nickel plating, they must apply it really really heavy if corrosion resistance is to be guaranteed.
Experts argue whether copper plating provides any additional corrosion resistance at all, but with or without copper plating, chrome on top of a single thin layer of nickel will not hold up to the severe exposure of a vehicle! Industry professionals call the two layers of nickel "duplex nickel plating", and that would be a much better term to use than "triple chrome" and such. Source
Experts argue whether copper plating provides any additional corrosion resistance at all, but with or without copper plating, chrome on top of a single thin layer of nickel will not hold up to the severe exposure of a vehicle! Industry professionals call the two layers of nickel "duplex nickel plating", and that would be a much better term to use than "triple chrome" and such. Source
Last edited by Aceshigh; Mar 25, 2011 at 07:59 AM.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 20
From: Northern California
I am glad to see you doing some research (google is a beautiful thing) before you post again, because you obviously didn't know what you were talking about. Your choice usage of buzz words like "triple chrome plated" and "single layer chrome" shows you have no understanding of this topic. Durability doesn't mean quality. The website you sourced explains everything pretty clearly. You even changed your wording to "single layer nickel" from "single layer chrome". You couldn't tell if the part was nickel plated only once anyways. What I know, is that those valve covers are cheap Chinese made parts, are "triple plated", and are of poor quality compared to today's standards (very wavy with little depth). And yes, when I go to a car show this weekend, I will probably see these parts, being sold at bargain prices with the rest of the junk. If you check their website (motorchrome.com) they also label their products being made of "Chrome Steel". Now explain that to me (please use google and get back to me)? I guess it looks good to add another "chrome" when describing your parts just for good measure.
Banned
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 52
those 350 HP covers are rednecked up valve covers that are sold on ebay by some goat roper.
if you want some real nice covers,buy these.
ill even throw in a set of new valve cover gaskets.
if you want some real nice covers,buy these.
ill even throw in a set of new valve cover gaskets.
Last edited by badd andy; Mar 25, 2011 at 07:22 PM.
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