So I’ve kinda been holding out on y’all that didn’t see my post in the “What did you buy for your G Body Today” thread.
Our beloved Turna PM’d me on these unique valve covers that he found on eBay. I waffled at first as I’ve already gone through two sets of covers searching for just the right “look”, but the more I thought about them, the more convinced I became that I wanted them. If nothing else, they were so different that I could just paint them up all pretty and hang ‘em on the wall as garage art:
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What makes them so unique is that they’re small block Chevy size and bolt pattern, yet they very obviously say Oldsmobile on them. I’ve since learned from fleming442 and streetbu that these were actually available through the GM Performance Parts catalog, and were originally sanctioned by and for Nascar after Olds got out of racing but were still using Olds bodied cars.
Anyways, enough history lesson.
After I got them in my possession, I started thinking a little more seriously about actually using them. They’d need a little work to become functional, as they didn’t have oil fill, breather or PCV holes. As much as I really didn’t want to, I nutted up and drilled each cover for the needed grommets. This is where having a little bench mounted drill press really comes in handy.
Drilled, and the grommets in place:
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The staining is from the aluminum cutting fluid I used, it easily cleans off with some wax and grease remover. Next I put a nice straight-line brushed finish on the letters with a little 80 grit on a block.
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With the letters now easy to clean off, I slathered both of them in liberal amounts of Corporate Blue and let them dry. Once dry enough to handle, I spent an hour or so playing with some Q-tips dipped in lacquer thinner.
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I worked on them upside down because the way the tops are slightly angled, it made it much easier. Doing this isn’t as tedious as you might think, and it’s actually quite rewarding.
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These will still need some sort of baffling put in place so that the PCV valve doesn’t suck oil, but after researching some options, I’ve decided that I’m going to use some special baffled grommets that are available from Moroso and a few others.
With that decision made, tonight I was able to install them:
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Success!
I finally have the look I was wanting all along, something that looked unique and special, like perhaps it could’ve been a rare factory option, or only available on a special order .
I know you guys are either going to love (Scott, me) or hate them (Zach 😉) but they’re there to stay. Personally, I’m very pleased with them.
D.
P.S - Does anybody wanna buy some nice valve covers with only a couple of starts but zero miles on them?
Seriously. PM me if interested.
