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1958-59 Pre-Production Valve Cover?
https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=63088		 Page 1 of 5
Author:  Oneida Garage [ Thu Dec 13, 2018 5:12 pm ]
Post subject:  1958-59 Pre-Production Valve Cover?
First Post. I've been a lurker for years; this site is quite a resource and I thank you all for it. I've never had a /6 question I couldn't get answered by doing a search on this fine site... until now.

In early Chrysler technical and promotional literature, the Slant Six engine is shown with a scalloped valve cover - picture attached. The scalloped cover shape mates with identical scallops in the cylinder head which circle around the holes for the spark plug tubes. This of course is not what the production cover or head look like - they simply have straight, flat rails - top and bottom. I've seen the scalloped cover referred to as a "pre-production" cover - but that's the extent of what I've been able to discover about it.

My question is - do any of you have any history or insight on this? Has anyone ever seen one of these scalloped covers in the flesh? I ask because I am in possession of a very early cylinder head with this unique pattern. I'd very much like to use the head on a special project - and am certain I can modify a production cover to work - but if anyone has or knows of a matching cover, I would surely like to see it or know more.

Many thanks in advance for your thoughtful replies.

Attachments:
scalloped valve cover.jpg
scalloped valve cover.jpg [ 138.24 KiB | Viewed 7945 times ]
Author:  Oneida Garage [ Thu Dec 13, 2018 5:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1958-59 Pre-Production Valve Cover?
Another early image where the "scalloped" head / valve cover pattern can be seen...

Attachments:
toque sequence.jpg
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Author:  Exner Geek [ Thu Dec 13, 2018 7:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1958-59 Pre-Production Valve Cover?
Where is Slant Six Dan now that we need him?
Author:  coconuteater64 [ Fri Dec 14, 2018 5:19 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1958-59 Pre-Production Valve Cover?
Quote:
Where is Slant Six Dan now that we need him?
I'm thinking the same thing. I'm sure he has knowledge of such.
Author:  and739 [ Fri Dec 14, 2018 6:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1958-59 Pre-Production Valve Cover?
Quote:
Quote:
Where is Slant Six Dan now that we need him?
I'm thinking the same thing. I'm sure he has knowledge of such.
Has anybody tried this:?
"SlantSixDan, SlantSixDan, SlantSixDan."
You know, like when they called up Betelgeuse.
Worth a shot.

Alternatively:
"Not-Logged-In, Not-Logged-In, Not-Logged-In"

:wink:
Author:  Oneida Garage [ Fri Dec 14, 2018 8:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1958-59 Pre-Production Valve Cover?
I know Dan; I’ll contact him directly. Thanks everyone.
Author:  hyper_pak [ Fri Dec 14, 2018 10:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1958-59 Pre-Production Valve Cover?
Seen these images many times, but never a picture of the cast iron. There is a family resemblance to the poly style small v8 engines that were around in the late 50's. Do you have a picture of your head to share?
Author:  slantzilla [ Fri Dec 14, 2018 12:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1958-59 Pre-Production Valve Cover?
Dan posted in another thread not long ago. He's not really gone.
Author:  SlantSixDan [ Fri Dec 14, 2018 1:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1958-59 Pre-Production Valve Cover?
Quote:
"SlantSixDan, SlantSixDan, SlantSixDan."
You know, like when they called up Betelgeuse.
Worth a shot.
As far as I've ever known (or assumed), that scalloped valve cover was always only ever a product of a rendering artist's hand. I've never seen one on any of the first-year Slant-6 engines that have crossed my field of vision over the years, but now you ask I've dug up my '60 factory parts cattledog, and sure enough, there's an up-to/after split on the head and valve cover even in the October '59 edition; see attached. It was a very, very early change, which the footnote makes clear was effective with engine number P22-6-6. That is, engines built on or after 7 June of 1959. With new-model cars being released for sale in September, that's a super-early engine build date. I fear you're in for a long and difficult round of bush-beating to find this obscure part. It will almost certainly be easier and much faster to start with a different cylinder head (the '67-up heads with the revised combustion chamber are preferable anyhow). Unless you're building a points-correct show car or have another reason to require early '60 equipment, in which case...go fish!

--the ghost with the most

Attachments:
1960_FPC_9-8.jpg
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Author:  Dart270 [ Fri Dec 14, 2018 2:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1958-59 Pre-Production Valve Cover?
Unreal. Thanks for sharing, everyone.

Lou
Author:  Oneida Garage [ Fri Dec 14, 2018 2:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1958-59 Pre-Production Valve Cover?
Here you go. It's not cast iron.....

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IMG_1503.jpg
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IMG_1500.jpg
IMG_1500.jpg [ 81.52 KiB | Viewed 7786 times ]
IMG_1502.jpg
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IMG_1501.jpg
IMG_1501.jpg [ 83.12 KiB | Viewed 7786 times ]
Author:  hyper_pak [ Fri Dec 14, 2018 2:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1958-59 Pre-Production Valve Cover?
Fantastic! What a find, good luck with your search.
Author:  GTS225 [ Fri Dec 14, 2018 3:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1958-59 Pre-Production Valve Cover?
Quote:
Here you go. It's not cast iron.....
****************************************************************

EXCUSE ME? Are you saying that this is an aluminum head?

Roger
Author:  Rick Covalt [ Fri Dec 14, 2018 3:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1958-59 Pre-Production Valve Cover?
An aluminum head of a design that I did not even know existed! Learn something new each day. What are the marks above each spark plug hole?
Author:  Oneida Garage [ Fri Dec 14, 2018 3:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1958-59 Pre-Production Valve Cover?
Quote:
Quote:
Here you go. It's not cast iron.....
****************************************************************

EXCUSE ME? Are you saying that this is an aluminum head?

Roger

I am...
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