VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 Valve covers

My 235 valve cover has a few dings in it that may/ will drive me crazy after I paint the motor.

I do have a parts car with a 216. Are the covers the same size?

Also the 216 has some " cone head" looking nuts holding it on. Are they correct for the period and the 235?

They originally came with the acorn (conehead)nuts.
Look to make sure that the covers are the same, oil fill hole and vent holes. The covers are the same as far as dimensions go.

The 235 and 216 valve covers are the same. The 1949-1953 valve covers are the same.
The acorn nuts were painted along with the valve cover after the engine was assembled
The oil filler cap was also "nstalled" so it was gray also.
There are two hard rubber gromets in the valve cover bolt holes....I would suggest ordering new ones from the F.S.

Just wondering on your project. If you're going for "period correct", do you now have the 216/std or the 235/PG ?

It's a 235/ pg but my parts car is a 216 standard.

Thanks I got new rubber grommets from the rebuilder.
I guess I'll jerk the 216 valve cover off and nuts and get to cleaning!

Merry Christmas

I'm missing something here.

If you car is a 235, and you're looking for period correctness, are you going to use the 216 valve cover with the two top, acorn type, retaining bolts? I know there is a mounting setup available where you can use the acorn type cover on the 235.

Maybe I'm missing how the 235 valve cover attaches, on a 1951 235 / PG combo. I thought it was attached with the 4 outer perimeter bolts.

The 1954 engine was the first to use te 4 bolts....he has a 1951 216 and a 235 which both hve the 2 center studs.

Ahhh, thank you.

That clears up the mystery for me.

Bob,
On the '54 235 I used to have in my '50, the head still had the two tapped holes for the old style valve cover, which I used with the 216 cover.

Worked a half day today so I got home early enough to go to my "parts department" and remove the valve cover. It's an exact match, except for the pound of dirt and oil. Currently soaking in water and Dawn dish water in a bucket outside! I am still married, so the bathtube is not allowed.

I did notice that the "acorn" nuts however may not tighten all the way down without some adjustment on the threaded rods they attach to. It appears that those two vertical rods may tap down a notch or two?

The verticle rods are studs that are threaded into the head. Has coarse threads for into the head and fine threads for the acorn nuts.You can place a vise grip on the area of the stud betwwen the two different threads and try to run the studs deeper into the head.
Some times the cover is kinda squashed and sits too low + the gasket will make up for some of the distance.

Thanks, confirmed my potential plan in the am.
Merry Christmas

OK, interesting. Thanks.

Dean,

Seems that something may wrong there. Just saying.

Maybe the head was changed?

Charlie

Last 3 casting digits on head .... 909 ? 848 ?

Merry Christmas.

I may be incorrect but I believe the 216 valve cover stud is also what holds down the rocker assy. Perhaps the hold down bolts in the 235 rockers was simply replaced with studs.

All 1929-1962 engines have tapped holes fro the valve cover studs - just that the 1954-1962 does not require studs and has boltsd in that location because the bolts hold down the rocker shafts.....On earlier models with the studs there is a hex nut on the strud to do the job of the bolt used in the later yearsIf a 1954 or later head is used it will have the 4 bolt holes that would hold down the cover and it the head it used on a pre 1954 the holes can be left open and the original valve cover used.
The original question posted says he has a 1951 235 engine and a 1951 parts engine so any reference to the 1954 and up style valve cover really isn't necessary.

Spent the morning wire brushing 62 years of dirt, oil and soot off the 216 valve cover. Primed, painted and installed like a camp. One small poke type dent on the side. Oh we'll now I have seven or so little imperfections that I know of and I'm sure more to follow!

Pics to follow someday

Sounds like someone modified that 54 cover. Never seen one like that meself unless maybe it was off a truck motor?

If period correct is not an issue, FS and Natl Chevy have nice chrome covers for 49-53 and 54+ years.