Heads / valve covers / # stamps/ 71 ls-5

[Ed L.]

Thanks to helpful members here I have learned a lot about my car and Corvettes in general. My VIN # is 194371S112816. Production date 3/22/1971. Block is stamped CE170713CPH. I learned here that my block is a warranty replacement. The rest of the motor and drive-train though appears to be correct for my car. From the Vin# I also believe my valve covers should be painted. the ones on now are flash chrome and I think they are GM issue but not sure. Please look at photos below and give me your opinion. I have also taken the covers off now and in the below link are photos of my heads. They are stamped as following which seems to me to indicated that they were produced in Nov 70. Would that be correct for my car? Please note Left head: K27 70, GM4T, 8993820. Right head: 3998820, GM 12T, K30 70. There are also a number of irregular holes in heads that I would think are not to be there, but car is running fine so maybe OK. Any advise on that? Please see photos in linked album and advise.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...1&l=64d69dfb78DSCN8532.jpgDSCN8533.jpg DSCN8528.jpg

[Warren F.]

Re: Heads / valve covers / # stamps/ 71 ls-5

Ed,
Your rocker arm covers appear to be for a 1970 or earlier use. Your VIN is too late for their use as OEM. Indeed your car should have painted rocker covers with a push in rubber oil cap instead of a metal twist on/off oil cap.

[Phil W.]

Re: Heads / valve covers / # stamps/ 71 ls-5

Ed,
You are correct, your valve covers should be painted. 1971 LS5s had chrome valve covers up to about car #4000, after that they were orange painted. I know an early (Vin# below 3000) original one owner LS5 that has its original chrome valve covers, so they do exist.
My car is Vin#6224, build date Jan. 11, 1971, and according to a previuos owner, it orginally had painted covers that were replaced with chrome in the late 1970's. Since your car is later build date than mine, I'd say your chrome covers were added when the replacement engine was installed - but who knows?

My driver side head is casting# 3993820, casting date L2170 (dec21, 1970), only about 3 weeks before the car build date. Other casting IDs are GM10T PASS. I don't have the Passenger side (only changed leaky gasket on driver's side) but I believe it should be the same casting number but date might be different.
Hope this helps.

[Patrick B.]

Re: Heads / valve covers / # stamps/ 71 ls-5

Head casting numbers are often hard to read. I'm sure that both of yours are actually 3993820. They are
the correct casting number for your LS-5, and almost certainly be original to your car.