wtb oldsmobile stamped valve covers
January 5th, 2009, 04:04 PM
#1
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Harvest, AL
Posts: 153
wtb oldsmobile stamped valve covers
hey olds nation. looking for olds stamped valve covers. send pics and price. thanks wes.
wghaskins@yahoo.com
wghaskins@yahoo.com
Chumley
January 14th, 2009, 06:17 PM
#9
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Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 3,133
People are referring to a valve cover that appeared sometime in the early/mid 70's (maybe '73). These were stamped steel and had "OLDSMOBILE" stamped into the top surface. Raised letters approx 1-1/2 - 2" tall. Pretty cool looking covers....no fancy lettering or anything like that but at least they ID the brand prominently on the top of the cover. They really look good when they have a nice chrome plating job done to them.
January 15th, 2009, 12:08 PM
#12
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 3,133
To be honest with you the chrome place here in Austin doesn't do real nice work (at least on bumpers) from what I have seen. `
Part of it depends on how slick you want them to look.....and of course that will affect the price of the chrome work. There are a number of places out there, probably a lot closer to you that could easily chrome a pair (check Hemmings or see if someone else pops up on here in your area with a recommendation).
One thing to note...expectations.....I am pretty sure the stamped covers have the oil splash baffles spot welded inside them like the earlier covers. That said, you need to realize that the chrome will not fill or hide the spot weld areas. In other words, whatever the bare surface of a valve cover looks like (dents, spot weld "spots", pitting) is what the chrome will look like.
Sure, someone can try to fill any bad spots with copper, etc but now you are talking TIME and fairly expensive chrome work. This is usually what differentiates the smooth-as-glass chrome work from the other.
If it were me, I would find a set of nice dent free (and hopefully pit-free) covers and get them done. Any minor dings that you can access from the backside of the cover could be "worked out" via pick hammer, dolly, sanding, etc with some time. Remember, the splash shields/baffles on the backside will block your access to the back of any dent that happens to be above the baffle. I've removed the baffles and re-attached them on a couple pair of notched 455 covers I have (to remove a couple small dings)...but again, you are talking more time (cut spot welds, access and remove dings, re-attach baffles via mig or spot welding).
Leave the spot weld "spots" that show up on the outside of the valve covers. It would look exactly like what Olds would have done had they chromed them and put them on motors.
Places like Paul's Chrome (in Hemmings) will typically be VERY EXPENSIVE. You should be able to find a local place that does stuff like this and will do it for a reasonable cost.
Part of it depends on how slick you want them to look.....and of course that will affect the price of the chrome work. There are a number of places out there, probably a lot closer to you that could easily chrome a pair (check Hemmings or see if someone else pops up on here in your area with a recommendation).
One thing to note...expectations.....I am pretty sure the stamped covers have the oil splash baffles spot welded inside them like the earlier covers. That said, you need to realize that the chrome will not fill or hide the spot weld areas. In other words, whatever the bare surface of a valve cover looks like (dents, spot weld "spots", pitting) is what the chrome will look like.
Sure, someone can try to fill any bad spots with copper, etc but now you are talking TIME and fairly expensive chrome work. This is usually what differentiates the smooth-as-glass chrome work from the other.
If it were me, I would find a set of nice dent free (and hopefully pit-free) covers and get them done. Any minor dings that you can access from the backside of the cover could be "worked out" via pick hammer, dolly, sanding, etc with some time. Remember, the splash shields/baffles on the backside will block your access to the back of any dent that happens to be above the baffle. I've removed the baffles and re-attached them on a couple pair of notched 455 covers I have (to remove a couple small dings)...but again, you are talking more time (cut spot welds, access and remove dings, re-attach baffles via mig or spot welding).
Leave the spot weld "spots" that show up on the outside of the valve covers. It would look exactly like what Olds would have done had they chromed them and put them on motors.
Places like Paul's Chrome (in Hemmings) will typically be VERY EXPENSIVE. You should be able to find a local place that does stuff like this and will do it for a reasonable cost.
here in st. louis.
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