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Which valve cover.

8K views 48 replies 21 participants last post by  gearheadslife 
#1 ·
My wife thought the valve covers on my lt1 look a bit plain and unfinished so I fabricated a trim plate to mount on top and machined some stainless washers to go under the chrome acorn nuts. I'm not sure I'm crazy about it.
What you guys think?


 
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#41 ·
Engine turning

I have done some engine turning on mostly SS I use 1/2 in.wood dowel,leather tip about 1/8 in.thick.glue shiny side to wood.Permatex makes valve grinding compound in a tube.NAPA has it.Paint it on SS with an acid brush.Sill plates for my 39 LaSalle I overlapped .300 in.(on milling machine) took about 40 hrs.total time.
 

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#43 ·
Valve covers look fine.

LT1, The valve covers need nothing more. Its amazing that with the dress, it doesn't look like an LT1 anymore. At first glance the valve covers almost look LS.

IMPO, I think the whole build is super cool and is destined to become a multiple car show winner. The attention to detail and your fabrication skill is second to none.

I love the fact that your wife takes interest in your project, but I think that you are doing fantastic work all by yourself and don't need any outside influences interupting your natural flow.

I would love to see a video of this beast fired up.

Nolan(also an LT1 nut)
 
#44 ·
Thanks for the kind words and input guy's.
This project has been a love hate relationship from the start.
First the lt1 motor is a bit of an orphan in the small block chevy world because the majority of parts aren't interchangeable with traditional chevy small blocks. Then putting it in a orphan body had my buddies looking at me like I've completely lost my mind.
I have to admit, when I purchased the car it was buried in the back of this guy's garage surrounded by junk. When my buddies helped me pull it out I had second thoughts about being able to make this homely car cool.
My friend looked at me and asked if I'd been smoking crack and that it was one of the ugliest cars he has ever seen.
At first it was going to be a just shoehorn the motor in and call it done. A good plan that I should have followed.
A few weeks later after purchasing a plasma cutter and my first welder I cut the car up so all that remained was the outside sheet metal.
I had to learn a bunch of new skills to build the frame, narrow the 9" and fabricate the roll cage. Made my share of mistakes and changed the build plan to many times. If I had to do it again, I would have a definite plan and stick to it instead of figuring it out as you build.
This car is the first fabrication work I've done but I had a lot of help and encouragement from the people on this board and the best wife ever.

Here's a couple more pics early in the build if, your interested.

Thanks again.

Ed





 
#45 ·
My wife thought the valve covers on my lt1 look a bit plain and unfinished so I fabricated a trim plate to mount on top and machined some stainless washers to go under the chrome acorn nuts. I'm not sure I'm crazy about it.
What you guys think?
How bout engine turn the trim plate then pinstrip the edge like you did on the valve cover. It'll help make it pop from blending into the valve cover and it'll kinda highlight the engine turn work.
Or just toss a pinstrip along that trim edge to set it off, that would be easy easy.

Some one could probably photochop some of the engine turn from the center of the engine onto the trim pieces just to get an idea.
 
#46 ·
I think it looks awesome. Amazing attention to detail. The only thing "I" would do is get rid of the brass. To me, it draws the eye to random parts of the engine compartment that don't seem to complement or blend with the rest of your work. However, that is being extremly picky and just personal preference.
 
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