Offenhauser Aluminum Valve Cover

[jhamel]

Greetings All,

I am rebuilding an engine for a 1961 Lakewood. The engine was in a basket when I bought the car. I have one (1) Offenhauser aluminum valve cover. This orphan needs his twin. If you have a single one, please let me know so that we can unite the twins - one way or another. I am not married to the idea of using this valve cover so if someone really needs it, it is available.

[bbodie52]

Welcome to the Corvair Forum! I believe that this website is a good place to start for solid Corvair support.

They can be found, but most often in pairs. I did a simple for "corvair Offenhauser aluminum valve cover" and right off the top had three listings (mostly for pairs, and not necessarily Offenhauser...

Valve Covers, Aluminum, 1960-69 Corvair, Polished, $236.95
You Save $21.96
$214.99
(Each)
FREE Shipping!
https://www.opgi.com/engines-components ... gIilPD_BwE


Corvair 6 Hole Aluminum Freshly Pollished Finned Valve Covers= look like Chrome
$240.00
+ $20.00 Shipping

https://www.ebay.com/i/163557426560?chn ... gKmsfD_BwE


Corvair 4 Hole Offenhouser Aluminum Polished Valve Covers, 2 New silicone gasket
$335.00
+ $20.00 Shipping

https://www.ebay.com/i/163680250556?chn ... gJhzPD_BwE


Anyway, this gives you some ideas about price, availability, condition, etc.

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Note: Polished aluminum does not dissipate heat like unpolished or black anodized covers would, and something like a black aluminum Otto oil pan that includes internal heat sink posts as well as external fins would do a better job of transferring heat from the oil to the outside air.

Recommend you check out the cost and features of the brand new Otto Parts and Economy aluminum oil pans and valve covers offered by Clark's Corvair Parts...



http://www.corvair.com/user-cgi/catalog ... ow_page=30


The efficiency and design of aluminum oil pans and valve covers are discussed in the following books (highly recommended)...

Performance Corvairs: How to Hotrod the Corvair Engine and Chassis Paperback – April 29, 2013
https://www.amazon.com/Performance-Corv ... 794&sr=8-1



How to Hotrod Corvair Engines Paperback – June 1, 1978
https://www.amazon.com/Hotrod-Corvair-E ... 988&sr=8-2



How to Hotrod Corvair Engines: Covers All 1960-69 Monzas-Corsas-Spyders 500's-700's, 3rd Revised Edition Unknown Binding
https://www.amazon.com/How-Hotrod-Corva ... 120&sr=8-3



I bought the early edition in 1970, and the current revision from Seth Emerson and Bill Fisher when it was published.

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The link below will provide you with a list of useful websites that are Corvair-related. Some of the links will lead you to an extensive technical library that will allow you to download shop manuals and other technical references in Adobe Reader format at no cost. There is also a link that will help you to locate nearby CORSA (Corvair Society of America) club chapters. You will also find a list of essential Corvair parts suppliers. Clark's Corvair Parts in Shelburne Falls, MA is the biggest and oldest Corvair supplier in the world. You will find a link that can provide you with a series of videos that amount to a tour of the Clark's Corvair Parts facilities. I think you will be amazed at the quality of the reproduction components they offer — particularly the interior carpeting and re-upholstery items. Parts suppliers such as this truly make our Corvair hobby possible.

Common and Useful Corvair Websites

viewtopic.php?f=225&t=6007

Useful YouTube Corvair "how to" videos from Dave Motohead...

https://www.youtube.com/user/davemotohead1/videos

I would like to encourage you to expand on your first post and tell us more about yourself, as well as about your Corvair. Some detailed photographs of the car — including the VIN and Body Tags in the driver's door frame and engine compartment — can be very helpful. If you can provide your personal assessment of your mechanical skills and abilities, that would help a lot. Members of the Corvair Forum love to be helpful in assisting other Corvair owners with technical support and advice, but it helps a lot if we have some understanding of your technical background and mechanical abilities, your Corvair-related knowledge, etc. Helping us to know more about you will help us to write comments to you that are tailored to your needs and experience. Let us know where you live — knowing you location can often suggest possibilities for Corvair-related support that may be helpful to you.

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Finally, there is some really good material on restoration and revival of early Corvair Lakewoods and wagons here on the forum. Here are a few links you might enjoy...

Corvair Lakewood 61 - NL (30 pages from the Netherlands)
viewtopic.php?t=2301

The Corvair Classic Camp Wagon - 1961 Corvair Lakewood Revival (Great story and videos!)
viewtopic.php?f=52&t=15232&p=105777#p105777

[Carlbriggs5]

Is this single valve cover still available. Need one. Price to ship to St. Louis, Mo. Please.

[Allan Lacki]

Perhaps this will help you find the valve cover you are looking for:

https://offenhauser.co/retailers/

[jhamel]

I still have a single offenhauser aluminu valve cover. It has no paint, meaning only aluminum is visible. It is drilled for six holes. If you still need it, let me know. I think a hundred bucks including shipping is fair. If you still have one that you would like to sell, let me know. One of us has to end up with a pair.

[erco]

Great looking covers but it sounds like they are more likely to leak than sheet metal covers: http://corvaircenter.com/phorum/read.php?1,461449

[joelsplace]

I've had better luck with aluminum covers sealing vs steel.

[bbodie52]

I believe that the thick, rigid characteristics of a machined cast aluminum valve cover or oil pan tends to warp or distort less than stamped sheet metal, so that the pressure applied by each mounting bolt is applied more-evenly along the mating surface adjacent to each bolt. This helps to clamp evenly against the gasket surfaces to prevent oil leaks. Thick cast aluminum valve covers would likely reduce uneven clamping pressure that is a source of oil leaks.



This valve cover attachment hardware was later added by Chevrolet to improve and dissipate the clamping pressure applied to the sheet metal valve covers to reduce the possibility of oil leaks.

The picture below shows a couple of assembly tips that are helpful on the Corvair engine. The thick steel retainers help to spread the pressure applied to the valve cover and gasket along three points, instead of only the bolt head. The outer ends of each strap are curved. Installed as shown, the curved tips act to apply distributed spring pressure on the valve cover in conjunction with each center bolt.

The upper row of head bolts tend to rust and soften with engine heat and exposure to the elements. A new fresh set of flange nuts, properly torqued, and then capped with acorn nuts to protect the exposed threads of each stud will make future removal much easier. The use of a six-point socket instead of a 12-point socket provides a better grip on the nut, which helps to prevent the socket from slipping or rounding-off the corners of the head nut.



These aluminum valve covers are produced by American Pi. They offer additional surface area and a black anodized finish to help with heat dissipation. Otto Parts also offers aluminum valve covers finished in black for improved heat radiation. Polished finishes hinder heat transfer to the outside air.
http://www.american-pi.com/corvair/html/specialty.html

Extra Deep Aluminum Valve Covers. The extra deep aluminum valve covers are specifically designed to provide clearance for all roller rockers, high lift cams and all stud girdles. These high quality custom cast valve covers are fully made in Southern California and are black anodized to mil specs. The larger surface area of these extra deep valve covers and the black anodizing will be an aid to engine cooling and this greatly helps all performance engines. The tough surface treatment of the mil spec anodizing will not scratch or flake off like other paints or coatings.

https://ssl.corvair.com/user-cgi/catalo ... ow_page=30

[erco]

Slightly OT, sorry:

Brad referenced the book "Performance Corvairs: How to Hotrod the Corvair Engine and Chassis Paperback" earlier here. Is that just a newly-printed version of HTHCE (which I have), or altogether different? It looks the same in the Amazon preview.

[bbodie52]

This book has been around for decades. I first bought a copy (for $5.00, by Bill Fisher) back around 1970 when I was 17. The latest edition was revised and updated by Seth Emerson a few years ago.

[erco]

TYVM Brad, I have two older copies of HTHCE, still good info.

[joelsplace]

The new one has quite a few updates. Ask Seth. He'll let you know the differences. I think it has an entirely new section but It's been a couple of years since I got the new one and read it so I don't remember exactly.