409 valve cover decal placement

[bobs409]

After watching some of the convention video, I noticed many had the "409 Turbo Fire" valve cover decals "centered" on the cover.

I was told that was incorrect when I asked LGC years ago. They sent me a photocopy from the assembly manual that showed them to go close to the front so that's where I put mine. Of course, I can't find it in my manual. Ever try to find something in these? :cuss

Which way is correct? :dunno

[JimKwiatkowski]

Bob,I've got mine on like you and my 425 HP decal is under the bow tie :dunno

[SteveD409]

Chrome cover years didn't have decal. (on the valve covers)

[Fran Preve]

On chrome valve covers the 409 Turbofire is centered on the raised portion, the horsepower is placed in the center under the bow tie.

On painted (62) valve covers the 409 Turbofire is placed on the raised portion to the front, the horsepower is placed under the bow tie.

1962 valve covers are painted and use DECALS, which are water transfers.
1963/64/64 valve covers are chrome plated and use FOIL stickers.

[walkerheaders]

Chrome cover years didn't have decal.



my 63 425 came with no decals on the covers. i would assume it's because it has a 409 emblem and crossed flags on the lid. there is a gold foil 425hp decal centered on the front of the cleaner housing.

[64ss409]

My 64 340 came with no decals on the covers. Just the gold foil sticker on the front of the air cleaner saying 409 340hp.
Ron

[MK IISS]

My 1963 409/425 (purchased new) did not have any decals on the valve covers, never saw one that did. Now, "Restored" 409s, even 61s, have decals all over the covers.

[bobs409]

I must say, I'm much more confused about this than before I asked. :D

If these engines never had valve cover decals, why are they even available? I must find that paper that LGC sent me. I've been looking in my assembly manual for the page they scanned but cannot find it. I remember is showing measurements of where to place the decal. :dunno

[bobs409]

Ok, I ventured into my closet and actually found the paper LGC's sent me. :D

As you can see, it appears to be a scan from an assembly manual. This is a scan of a tech article they did in January 1990, page 10.

At least I know I'm not crazy now, the memory is still working. :p

[SteveD409]

Bob, because the engine in your scan has a draft tube it is pre-63, a painted valve cover. 63, at least, didn't have decals on the valve covers. They had an emblem (similar to the fender emblem) located on the lid and a horsepower sticker on the front of the air cleaner.

[MK IISS]

Bob: I still don't believe 409s with chrome valve covers had decals. Mine didn't, several other members said their's didn't and I never saw any that did back when these engines were new. The drawing from your assembly manual is of a '62 engine because it has a road draft tube. The '62s had decals. Why would they make them if the engines didn't have them? The answer is simply.... because people want them and buy them. The same reason they make stencils to highlight the "Chevrolet" script on 55-57 small blocks. People want them and buy them. The 55-57 small block V/8s did not have highlighted script (black on '55s, silver on '57s) from the factory but just about everyone who restores these cars paints them that way.

Highlighted script on 55-57s, decals on 348s and '61 409s, '62 409 green valve covers, decals on chrome 409 valve covers all belong in a very special place.

[gearhead409]

LGC's drawing is for a 62 (see road draft tube). i have only seen original decals on 62 pass. car covers (also this was the year chevy moved the front wire loom to make room for the decal) and all 409 truck engines. i have bought complete 63 and 64 engines and have a stack of chrome covers,none of them have original decals. they could have had them but i've not seen it.

[bobs409]

Well, I guess LGC steered me wrong then. If you notice, they say all 409's. And since they have all the different horsepowers up to 425, one would think they were stock. ?? I hadn't noticed the draft tube but when I asked, I did ask for the sticker placement for mine which is a 63 400hp and this is what they sent me.

Guess I'll go scrape those stickers off. :D (naw, maybe leave 'em for now)

I'm glad I asked though. I certainly learned something on this one!

Hey JimK, you keepin' yours?

[JimKwiatkowski]

Bob,I sure am keeping mine.I think they look :cool:

[real61ss]

Posted by Bob........."Well, I guess LGC steered me wrong then".

ain't the first time that's happened!!!!! :cuss
call'm up, ask'm if they got any 409 wheels, I bet they do!!!!!! :brow

[SteveD409]

Sorry, Walker, when I said "chrome cover years didn't have a decal" I meant they didn't have a decal on the valve covers. Guess I was a might confusing. :scratch

[gearhead409]

ya,i collected those '409' wheels for years, got enough for all my 62s. now i don't know if i have enough std. wheels to put back on them. i'll still use the six inch wheels on some cars, i think they look good. LGC has been good to most of us through the years,but they are not always right. sometimes you have to use your own judgment.

[MK IISS]

In my opinion it doesn't matter if a decal or whatever is correct or not. If a manufacturer or vendor has a high enough demand for a product someone is gonna make it and offer it for sale if money is to be made. The small block valve cover scrip stencil is a perfect example. Thousands have been sold.

[JIMS409]

Well folks, unless you are going for a 999 pts. show car I think it's just a matter of personal choice. :dunno My 63' didn't come with them from factory and I put em' on because like Jim Kwi said...They Look Cool! She came with that "pug-ugly" big ol' dual snorkel "Buick Wildcat" styled air cleaner and well, that's in the attic.

AND...Helps folks better understand what that funny lookin' motor really is. Just my .02 and have a great week all. :)

[SteveD409]

Actually I was just shortening the 'handle" you use here, not really just using your sirname. Sorry, Bob.

SteveD

[Fran Preve]

I learned something here too, come to think of it I've never seen an ORIGINAL chrome valve cover with foil stickers. I'da thought over all these years and seening so many beat up old chrome valve covers I would have.

Yes the tech article is a 1962, and you'll note they describe DECALS not stickers.
That would have been needed in 1962 maybe because there was no emblem on the air cleaner.

PS: I had a Buick chrome AC but it wasn't the same (exactly) as a 409. I wouldn't leave it in the attic, I'd Ebay it, it's worth a ton to a Buick restorer!. I was selling at a flea market two or three years ago and one of the guys had a set of Buick 2x4 barrel carbs (just them). He didn't sell them until the end of the swap, then for $250, I coulda scarfed them up for $200. They may have been Buicks but I bet they were the same as 409's except for the stamped numbers.

[gearhead409]

if the carbs you saw had the same numbers as the 409 ones,you were looking at 409 carbs. buick carbs don't have the same throttle shaft arms on the driver's side.

[Fran Preve]

I said I didn't know the numbers, but the guy selling them said they were Buick, at any rate, they should have been fully usable on a 409 motor, incorrect, but then at the price you couldn't have touched ONE real 409 duel quad carb. A "purist" would have known the difference but with the air cleaner on 90% of the people looking at the engine wouldn't have known the difference. Thre Buick carb was the same style, type, size and with the correct neck size for a stock air cleaner. Judging from what the stock tri power unit's are selling for I think a 2x4 intake with in correct but correct looking carbs would go for today.

[gearhead409]

sorry, i miss read your post ( must be getting alzheimer's). i did use a set of these buick carbs on a customer's 409 a while back, it ran in the 12.40s.later we put the 409 carbs on it and it still ran in the 12.40s.the old buick carbs must have been pretty good!

[SteveD409]

Gearhead, you're OK, no alzheimers yet. I made a post, going on info I had been told, that the Buick dual quad AFBs were the same number as the 409 dual AFBs. Then when I did a search I found it not to be true so I deleted the message. My bad.

SteveD

[gearhead409]

MAN! thank you, thank you, thank you. i thought i was REALLY loosing it! ha, we really have alot of fun on here, it's a great place with a alot of great guys. thanks again i feel better now!

[bobs409]

I knew that but I was just secretly laughing. :p