Just curious, the cast aluminum finned valve covers, when did they first come out and/or who made them? Just picked up a set am curious.
Mike
photos would help to find out what you have. Do they have any script or brand name on them ? if not they are probably cal Custom , possibly from the 1960s or later reproductions. But there were several og speedshops, offering these pretty much from the early days of Y blocks, I'd say by mid 1950s. I have these old original Offenhauser valve covers, but asfaik, they are probably still made by the og company still in business today.
Offenhauser s.jpg
this is insane... a new set of said valve covers costs over $500
https://www.classicindustries.com/product/of2727.html?srsltid=AfmBOooEVnBLWxnaJGVf-BWAM7bpxDNoy7q9ll8nmvsu4BhRwOWhWjkI
These are one's I just grabbed. I will eventually strip them and repaint them black and yellow to match the car's color scheme. Or if I want to be really daring/stupid white and yellow.
Mike
Thanks DJ, I have not had a chance to look super closely at them yet. But he gave a deal I could not pass up. I am doing my best to buy all of the Y block and Model A parts Tony has at Bergstrom' auto parts in Port Townsend, Wa.
Quote from: 1930artdeco on 2026-03-02 12:03Thanks DJ, I have not had a chance to look super closely at them yet. But he gave a deal I could not pass up. I am doing my best to buy all of the Y block and Model A parts Tony has at Bergstrom' auto parts in Port Townsend, Wa.
Ah...Tony...I remember that place well. Talk about a candy store! I spent many a dollar there! Could have spent many, Many, MANY more too!
they appear to be the 8 rib version and original 312 Thunderbird covers, which would even be correct for a 1957 312 ( T bird). I am sure other members will be much more knowledgable and able to verify if they are oem Fomoco parts or later reproductions.
if they were mine, I would probably go around the hassle of stripping and repainting and just sand off the red from the fins edges. it would give a nice brushed contrast to the polished sides and red painted spaces between the ribs.
I bought a set a couple of years ago,, , , ,don't remember the price, but, , I ,painted them black an sanded the ribs, , ,to me they look great
I looked at the underside last night and didn't see any name or other markings other than a '2'. The inside is very nice and crisp as far as edges go and no oil residue.