Aluminum Valve Covers

[cwmcobra]

Is there such a thing as "correct" aluminum valve covers for the 65 GS?  I believe the stock covers were chromed stamped steel.  Mine has aluminum covers which I really like the look of.  I'm wondering if they are correct for 65 with respect to the locations of the breather and PCV holes.  I have the opportunity to trade for other covers.  Should I care?  I'm not sure what to look for other than the locations of the holes and which holes are used for the breather.  This is a dual quad setup.  Below is a picture of what I have.

Thanks!

Chuck

[Joe65SkylarkGS]

I'm putting the ones you currently have on my 65.

They are the best looking covers available IMO.

[65GS]

 
Those are the best looking of them ALL. The cadillac of valve covers..
I'm brain washed.LOL

AL

[Loren At 65GS]

The stock original covers as from the factory in '65 were steelpainted engine color.
The chrome covers were part of the engine beautification package , available from the dealer parts dept.This also had a chrome aircleaner .
If memory serves me, there were three different style of aluminum valve cover. The ones in the pic were for '66 .

Loren

[BuickGSrules]

I have the ones like yours on my ?65 too, but when I am mounting the roller rockers I have from TA I will put theirs on, they look a bit like the same put has stamped Nailhead on top what I think too looks good

[Chris]

The chrome package included the chrome valve covers and a chrome aircleaner base.  You had to reuse your original black aircleaner lid.

I have this package on my white convertible and I've only seen a couple others.

Chris

[65GS]

Loren

These are the same ones I have on my GS since 1971. They came off a 65 Riv. GS. ? as to the 66 ref.?
I bought from orig. owner in 71. I got the 2-4 setup, orig.carbs, air cleaner,linkage, fuel lines and the alum. valve covers for the princely sum of $ 25.00 total. Still have the receipt.

AL

[WkillGS]

Chuck, see that 'dent' on the front of the drivers side valve cover?......that's to clear the smog pump that was used on the '66 models. '65 covers didn't have it.
There were some minor changes thru the years. Correct me if I'm wrong....
'64 covers were the first.
'65 had a slight change on the left cover to clear the kickdown linkage for the ST400 trans.
There might have been a Calif version of the left side 65 cover with another opening???
'66 had the 'dent' on the left cover to clear the smog pump.
Right side covers had a straight or slanted pcv valve outlet.

[cwmcobra]

Thanks Guys!  I take it from Walt's comments that the 65 left cover would not have the dent for the smog pump.  Is that the only change I should look for?  The breather holes are in the same locations?  Should the PCV hole in the right cover be vertical or slanted.  What I have now is slanted toward the rear of the engine.

Chuck

[Loren At 65GS]

Thanks Walt! Those were the points I was going to refer to latter , after looking it up.

Yes Chuck, the '65's would NOT have the dent for the smog pump. So I guess, the left would be incorrect for a '65 in a judged BCA show.

Al, if your covers are identical, I would have to think that you've had the incorrect ones for a '65 since '71.

Loren

[wildcat65]

The chrome package included the chrome valve covers and a chrome aircleaner base.  You had to reuse your original black aircleaner lid.

I have this package on my white convertible and I've only seen a couple others.

Chris

Cool, I am doing my 65 with the chrome air cleaner (a 66 'cause of an Edelbrock) and the chrome steel valve covers.  Were any other things chromed?  Like the voltage regulator?

[WkillGS]

I have a pic of the accessory chrome kit posted here somewhere...
.... I just added them to the gallery in the NOS parts section for all to see.

Many of the pieces are avail as repo items:
CARS has a repo chrome oil breather.... and only $34!
And you guys know they repo the correct aluminum disk air cleaner lid monogram....don't you? It's beautiful!
http://oldbuickparts.com/

Russ Martin (Buickrodder on eBay) has repo chrome plug wire holders for $35 a set:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360190830754&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

Add some chrome valve cover bolts and a chrome oil filler cap and possibly a chrome wing nut to complete the package!

[Doc]

The ribbed ,''BUICK'' covers were offered over the counter for all the nail head engines,,,, back in the day,,, the ones in the picture are 1966 covers with the dent for the calif. cars air pump... others didnt have the dent...

[WkillGS]

Dug some info I had on file:

 Russ Martin posted the info, and I looked up the pn's in a parts book:

>>>>There are 3 left side covers, the 49 state one
that is the most common, the 2x4 calif. with 2
openings and the 66 calif. cover that you have. There were only two different right side covers, the early had a PCV valve that stuck straight up and a later one
that angled back. ----- Russ


1366222 64-65   RH straight PCV
1370316 64-64   LH
1371139 ?? LH    Xtra bolt in rear, 2 openings
1377932 66 RH   angled PCV
1377933 66 LH    Dent in front

I have a 1371139 here I bought on eBay. I didn't see it listed in the parts books, so no positive ID on that one.

[35chevcoupe]

All , I realize this is a old post but pertains to what i,m trying to figure out .
 I have 2 set of BUICK aluminum valve covers that both appear to be for 64 65 but one number i,m not finding . The number i have is 1366223 .
 Any ideas ?   Both my right sides have the same number ( 1366222 ) but have different notches on the inside rear corner . Was there an auto vs. manual trans cover ?