VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1916-1922 - Model 490 490 valve cover ? on ebay

This was talked about on another post but I didn't want it going un-noticed. On ebay there is a valve cover for a 1920 chevy 4 cylinder. It looks just like the one from the earlier post. Look under (1920's chevy valve cover) It has only 2+ days left for $24.99. Looks cool, but I do like the idea of exposed rocker arms.

looks just like my 27 valve cover, can anyone tell me the differences between any of the 171 engine valve covers 1914 thru 1928?????

Not all 4-cylinder cars had valve covers prior to 1925. In 25 the engine had two valve covers. One for each group of two pistons. When the engine was changed to have the generator belt driven the valve cover covered all 4-cylinders. The full cover remained til the end of the 4-cylinder production.

As AntiqueMechanic has said, the Four-Ninety model never had any valve cover from the factory.

This is true of these "small" Chevrolets (or "cheap" model Chevrolets) from the introduction of the Four-Ninety in 1916 through its end in 1922, and including its evolution into the Superior model as introduced in 1923, and the '24 Superior as well. Then in 1925 the Superior was given a two-piece valve cover, for that one year only. In 1926, this becomes a single one-piece cover for the 1926, 27, and 28 (last 4 cylinder). Footnote: to be completely accurate, the "Superior" name applies to 1923 to 1926; the 1927 was called the "Capitol" model, and the 1928 was called the "National" and featured an improved cylinder head design etc, although it still displaced 171 cubic inches and used essentially the same valve cover.

The earlier Model H (1914-16) and the models F (1917), FA (1918), and FB (1919-22) DID have valve covers. In other words, the "big" Chevrolets (the "expensive" Chevrolets) always had valve covers. (Note that there were no longer any "big" Chevrolets after 1922. The FA and FB had a larger 4 cylinder of 224 cubic inches - all other 4 cylinders from 1914 to 1928 were always the 171 cubic inch.)

The early Model H had the identical cylinder head as the early Four-Ninety, Part Number 407. The valve covers for the Model H were nickel plated, and had holes for ease of lubricating the rockers. The later Superior model valve covers for 1925 (two piece) and '26-'28 (one piece) did not have any holes, but rather had to be removed to lubricate the rockers. However, they had absorbant pads attached to the inside top to help hold some oil longer.

Photos of each below -

Early Four-Ninety, no valve cover (below) -




Model H 1914 to 1916 plated valve cover with holes (below) -




Superior style model one-piece cover 1926 to 1928 (below) -




Two-piece cover as used in 1925 only (below) -

Great information, guys! Thanks also for the great pictures, Chevy Guru! - The Ol' Coach

Hey i have a head to what i believe to be a 1917 chevy 4 cylinder. i dont think it can have a valve cover, if i get some pictures can anyone help me identify what it is and the value?

Yes, especially if you tell us all the numbers that appear on it.

Thanks a bunch Guru -

So, I have identified this is a 1917 (D-1-17) (early) 490 head. I'll get a few pictures of it up tonight.

Also, I have a BUNCH of mid-to-early heads, and 2 blocks w/ pistons & cams, and 5x manual 4 speed (pre 1950) trannys, and 9x 1936-7 wire rims (17')


I'll get some pictures, why I have all this is I just recently bought a 1933 Chevy 1 1/2 ton, with the bed FULL

Thanks gents,
oldcarsdaily.

Guru,

Pics are here:
http://postimg.org/image/a27t7m68z/
http://postimg.org/image/64kji7jfn/
http://postimg.org/image/4gle3k5k3/
http://postimg.org/image/dn3oquasj/

Number are,

D 1 7 , 345453, #20 and a clover.

Thanks a million,
oldcars.

The head pictured in the links are of a 1927 year head and not a 1917. 1917 head had a part number 407-* (number where the star is) .They also used 17 in the date for the year, not just a 7 .

Why no valve cover? Thats why i was assuming it was a 17

I think you'll find if you have a real good look at a '26-'28 rocker arm cover,there are 4 oiling holes each of which is over the 2 sets of rocker arms.On the underside of the cover you'll see a pressed steel piece with 2 channels in it that's spot welded to the underside of the cover.In these 2 channels,there are holes that have been punched out,allowing you to lubricate the felt pad that sits on top of the rocker gear/valve gear,without removing the rocker cover.
On a '26-'27 engine with the sparkplug lead carrier held down with an extension of one of the rocker shaft clamps,it must have been far easier to lube the valve gear etc without having to remove the plug leads as well as the plug led carrier.
On a '28,it's just as easy to remove the cover and do a proper lube job of the top end(felt pad included)but I suppose if you were in a hurry,you'd use the holes in the rocker cover to do the job faster.

The date casting D 1 7 is for April 1st 1927.might be a clue in that date.