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Dodge Hemi Valve Covers
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Powerflite
Posted 2020-10-24 11:48 AM (#604867)
Subject: Dodge Hemi Valve Covers



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As far as I know, there are 4 different valve covers for the Dodge hemi.
1. Embossed Red Ram with ram animal
2. Embossed Super Red Ram
3. Plain w/o bumps
4. Plain with bumps

The question is where were all these used?
I believe that the plain with bumps was used on 1956 315 only.
The plain without bumps were used on all '57 and '55 Dodge.
The embossed Red Ram was used on the '53-'54 241.
But I have no idea about the embossed Super Red Ram cover. Any ideas? I just picked up a set of them last night.
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56D500boy
Posted 2020-10-24 12:24 PM (#604870 - in reply to #604867)
Subject: RE: Dodge Hemi Valve Covers



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Powerflite - 2020-10-24 8:48 AM

As far as I know, there are 4 different valve covers for the Dodge hemi.
1. Embossed Red Ram with ram animal
2. Embossed Super Red Ram
3. Plain w/o bumps
4. Plain with bumps

The question is where were all these used?


This is what I *THINK* I know:

1. Probably the earliest 1953 and 54 Dodge 241 double rocker V8s



REF: http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=73594&...



REF: http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=54714&...

1954 Dodge Indy 500 Pace Car:



REF: http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=71240&...

and http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=67565&...

2. Early build 1955 Dodge 270 double Rocker:

This car is local to me and I know that it is one of the first 1955 Dodges built:



3. Probably the later 1955 270 Double Rockers, after they dropped the embossing and went to the SUPER RED RAM decal (BUT apparently this is the wrong decal, should be smaller lettering and slanted to the right)



4. The 1956 315 solid lifter double rocker D500 engine and the 1957 325 hydraulic lifter double rocker D500 engine

The bumps were required to clear the solid lifter adjusting screw on the exhaust valves in the 56 D500. They weren't needed for the 57 D500s but they didn't go back to smooth, they kept the bumps

My 1956 D500:



A 57 D500:



*I THINK*

Edited by 56D500boy 2020-10-25 2:50 AM
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Powerflite
Posted 2020-10-24 12:40 PM (#604871 - in reply to #604867)
Subject: Re: Dodge Hemi Valve Covers



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Interesting. So the '57 Dodge used the bumps despite not needing them. Odd. Also odd that they would change the cover design in '55 soon after they made them with embossings. Is it possible that the embossed Super Red Ram covers were only used on cars that received the 4bbl intake, while the 2bbl motors received the plain valve covers? That seems more likely to me.
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56D500boy
Posted 2020-10-24 1:21 PM (#604876 - in reply to #604871)
Subject: Re: Dodge Hemi Valve Covers



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Powerflite - 2020-10-24 9:40 AM
Interesting. So the '57 Dodge used the bumps despite not needing them. Odd. Also odd that they would change the cover design in '55 soon after they made them with embossings. Is it possible that the embossed Super Red Ram covers were only used on cars that received the 4bbl intake, while the 2bbl motors received the plain valve covers? That seems more likely to me.


Sorry. That early build 55 Custom Royal Lancer originally came from the factory with a 2 bbl carb so that theory doesn't work. (The owner at the time sought out and installed a 4 bbl manifold (originally made for the 1954 Pace Cars) and carb and installed them instead of the 2 bbl stuff).

Here is the PN for the 1956 and 1957 D500 valve covers, i.e. 1615 904. To my surprise, there is a different PN, 1827 497, for the left D500 valve cover *IF* the car had air con. I have no idea what that means.



Edited by 56D500boy 2020-10-24 1:23 PM




(56-57D500ValveCoverPNs1615904.jpg)



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Powerflite
Posted 2020-10-24 1:40 PM (#604878 - in reply to #604867)
Subject: Re: Dodge Hemi Valve Covers



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It is probably for the same reason they were different on the Chrysler cars with A/C. They had an oil feed line that went into the left valve cover.
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56D500boy
Posted 2020-10-24 8:56 PM (#604895 - in reply to #604878)
Subject: Re: Dodge Hemi Valve Covers



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Powerflite - 2020-10-24 10:40 AM
It is probably for the same reason they were different on the Chrysler cars with A/C. They had an oil feed line that went into the left valve cover.


I've never seen that before. And never on a 57 D500 (like why would you order a D500 for the HP and then kill a bunch of it with an A/C compressor?).

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56D500boy
Posted 2020-10-24 9:33 PM (#604896 - in reply to #604876)
Subject: Re: Dodge Hemi Valve Covers



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From page 104 of Mike Petersen's "1955 Dodge - by the Numbers" book:

"Super Red Ram stamped on valve covers to VIN 34834078

No observations from 34834079 to 34834496

No stamping on 34834497's valve covers; observed on 348352229 and later VINs

Letters on stamped valve covers and decals slant to the right, NOT straight up and down."

So this decal is correct, not the other one I posted above:



Edited by 56D500boy 2020-10-24 11:44 PM




(55DodgeValveCoverWithDecal.jpg)



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56D500boy
Posted 2020-10-25 2:48 AM (#604904 - in reply to #604896)
Subject: Re: Dodge Hemi Valve Covers



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Here are some more 55 Dodge photos:

1. Plain/flat valve covers with no decal
2. Plain/flat covers with decal
3. Plain/flat covers with decal, clearly showing the edges of the decal.






(55dodge-royal-lancer-2-door-hardtop-hemi-motor-NoDecal.JPG)



(55DodgeValveCoverWithDecal_2.jpg)



(55DodgeValveCoverWithDecal_3.jpg)



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Attachments 55dodge-royal-lancer-2-door-hardtop-hemi-motor-NoDecal.JPG (81KB - 235 downloads)
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Attachments 55DodgeValveCoverWithDecal_3.jpg (121KB - 273 downloads)
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56D500boy
Posted 2020-10-25 12:48 PM (#604911 - in reply to #604896)
Subject: Re: Dodge Hemi Valve Covers



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56D500boy - 2020-10-24 6:33 PM.
From page 104 of Mike Petersen's "1955 Dodge - by the Numbers" book:
"Super Red Ram stamped on valve covers to VIN 34834078


Using weekly production data that Mike Petersen presents on Pg. 103 of his 55 Dodge book, it looks like it took to about part way through week 19 (ending Jan 29, 1955) to get to VIN 34834078. So not as early as I had been lead to believe.

Production ran to the week that ended August 20, 1955.



Edited by 56D500boy 2020-10-25 12:51 PM




(55DodgeVINsInTheEarlyWeeksOfProduction.jpg)



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56D500boy
Posted 2020-10-25 5:47 PM (#604920 - in reply to #604911)
Subject: Re: Dodge Hemi Valve Covers



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Like a dog with a bone....

Here is a photo of one of John S. (ArizonaGold)'s 57 Dodge D500s (this is from the wagon) showing the bumps on the 57 hydraulic lifter D500 valve covers (really just 56 solid lifter 315 D500 valve covers):

First mine (315 D500) during their first rehab/repaint in 60 odd years:



REF: http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=65655&...

Now John's 57 D500:



Edited by 56D500boy 2020-10-25 5:49 PM




(JohnSsD500WagonValveCoverShowingBumps.jpg)



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Powerflite
Posted 2020-10-25 7:09 PM (#604922 - in reply to #604867)
Subject: Re: Dodge Hemi Valve Covers



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What color of red are you and he using?
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56D500boy
Posted 2020-10-25 7:53 PM (#604923 - in reply to #604922)
Subject: Re: Dodge Hemi Valve Covers



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Powerflite - 2020-10-25 4:09 PM
What color of red are you and he using?


I can't speak for John but in my case, I've used two red paints. For the valve covers, which get quite hot, I used the VHT brand red caliper paint shown in the valve cover painting photo in my previous post.

For the air cleaner, I took Dave Homstad's suggestion that the correct paint for the 56 Dodge D500 air cleaner and valve covers was PN P4349218. Turns out that that exact PN is not available but the more modern version of it is P4349218AB (same numbers, just "AB" added at the end). I used that (I bought a case of six from a local Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge dealership) when doing a conversion of a 56 oil bath 4 bbl air cleaner (4 7/8" throat) to paper, as documented here:

http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/get-attachment.asp?action=...

The paint on the air cleaner is probably a tag oranger than the VHT paint on the valve covers but nobody notices. They just ask why there are no "RED RAM" decals on the valve cover "Isn't it a Red Ram?"
(me: {forehead slap})









Edited by 56D500boy 2020-10-25 7:54 PM
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56D500boy
Posted 2020-10-29 1:48 PM (#605026 - in reply to #604923)
Subject: Re: Dodge Hemi Valve Covers



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While looking for information about Maury Baldwin, the real designer of the 1955 and 1956 Dodges (not "Ex" but in "Ex's" department and under "Ex's" approval/control), I bumped into the Firearrows (I, II and III). Turns out that the Firearrow III had a 241 Dodge Red Ram double rocker ("hemi") engine. In this case (or at least now), the Red Ram-embossed valve covers were chromed.





(1954 Dodge Firearrow III -TheCar.jpg)



(1954 Dodge Firearrow III - With 241 Red Ram.jpg)



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Attachments 1954 Dodge Firearrow III -TheCar.jpg (95KB - 232 downloads)
Attachments 1954 Dodge Firearrow III - With 241 Red Ram.jpg (188KB - 223 downloads)
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LD3 Greg
Posted 2020-10-29 8:32 PM (#605039 - in reply to #604867)
Subject: RE: Dodge Hemi Valve Covers


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Embossed valve covers on a 57 Super D. The only ones I have seen!

Greg



(image.jpg)



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56D500boy
Posted 2020-10-29 8:53 PM (#605044 - in reply to #605039)
Subject: RE: Dodge Hemi Valve Covers



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LD3 Greg - 2020-10-29 5:32 PM
Embossed valve covers on a 57 Super D. The only ones I have seen!


Pretty sure that those are just the SUPER RED RAM decals that everyone, including the owner of the Super D500, abuses.

Do you have a link to the photo source so I could check this out more?



Edited by 56D500boy 2020-10-29 9:50 PM
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LD3 Greg
Posted 2020-10-29 11:53 PM (#605047 - in reply to #605044)
Subject: RE: Dodge Hemi Valve Covers


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56D500boy - 2020-10-29 8:53 PM

LD3 Greg - 2020-10-29 5:32 PM
Embossed valve covers on a 57 Super D. The only ones I have seen!


Pretty sure that those are just the SUPER RED RAM decals that everyone, including the owner of the Super D500, abuses.

Do you have a link to the photo source so I could check this out more?

:)


Decals huh?! Put on your 3D spectacles!!

Thanks for the offer but I don't need you to check out anything!!

Greg
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56D500boy
Posted 2020-10-30 1:37 AM (#605050 - in reply to #605047)
Subject: RE: Dodge Hemi Valve Covers



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LD3 Greg - 2020-10-29 8:53 PM
Decals huh?! Put on your 3D spectacles!!


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LD3 Greg
Posted 2020-10-30 11:51 PM (#605099 - in reply to #605050)
Subject: RE: Dodge Hemi Valve Covers


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56D500boy - 2020-10-30 1:37 AM

LD3 Greg - 2020-10-29 8:53 PM
Decals huh?! Put on your 3D spectacles!!




OK, that black shading does impart the optics of it being embossed. Maybe I did mis interpret.

But, why the "abuse"'accusation? What else in that photo would you consider as being incorrect?

Greg
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56D500boy
Posted 2020-10-31 2:08 AM (#605100 - in reply to #605099)
Subject: RE: Dodge Hemi Valve Covers



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LD3 Greg - 2020-10-30 8:51 PM
But, why the "abuse"'accusation? What else in that photo would you consider as being incorrect?
Greg


Because the only "SUPER RED RAM" engine in 1957 was the single rocker, i.e. NOT DOUBLE ROCKER, polyspherical combustion chamber 325. The one in the photo, if real, is the dual 4 bbl double rocker ("hemi") SUPER D-500 engine, not the SUPER RED RAM, hence "abuse". Some people think that plane red valve covers on the 56 D500, 56 D500-1, 57 D500 and 57 Super D-500, just don't tell the world enough about what the engine is so they think adding decals from a lower hp engine makes it better. (LOL) Sad really.



REFERENCE: http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/dodge/57dg/57dg.html



Edited by 56D500boy 2020-10-31 2:42 PM
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56D500boy
Posted 2020-11-02 10:44 AM (#605207 - in reply to #605100)
Subject: Fairly late Embossed SUPER RED RAM covers - 55 with VIN 34821749



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From above, the end of the embossed 55 Super Red Ram valve covers was around VIN 34834078. This eBay 55 Dodge Custom Royal has VIN 34821749, about the second last week of the embossed covers:





Edited by 56D500boy 2020-11-02 10:46 AM




(55CustomRoyalLancerVIN34821749_exterior.jpg)



(55CustomRoyalLancerVIN34821749.jpg)



(55CustomRoyalLancerVIN34821749_EmbossedValveCovers.jpg)



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Attachments 55CustomRoyalLancerVIN34821749.jpg (237KB - 231 downloads)
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frwl
Posted 2020-11-02 1:55 PM (#605220 - in reply to #604867)
Subject: RE: Dodge Hemi Valve Covers


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(1.JPG)



(2.JPG)



(3.JPG)



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56D500boy
Posted 2020-11-02 2:06 PM (#605222 - in reply to #605220)
Subject: RE: Dodge Hemi Valve Covers



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Thanks Igor. With VIN 34834411, it's after the presumed break point and yes, it seems to have the proper slanted SUPER RED RAM decal, complete with black shadow lines to make it look like the embossed version (somebody probably got employee of the month for coming up with that and eliminating the extra cost of embossing and painting).





(55DodgeVIN34834411WithSuperRedRamDecal_detail.jpg)



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56D500boy
Posted 2020-11-21 11:35 AM (#605878 - in reply to #605222)
Subject: RE: Dodge Hemi Valve Covers



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Sorry. Had to post this for the Slanted "Super Red Ram" decal skeptics. This is from a 55 Royal and one can plainly see that a) it's a decal and b) flat metal underneath



Edited by 56D500boy 2020-11-21 11:37 AM




(55DodgeRoyalWith270WithSlantedSuperRedRamDecal.jpg)



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Powerflite
Posted 2020-11-21 11:39 AM (#605879 - in reply to #604867)
Subject: Re: Dodge Hemi Valve Covers



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I have a set of embossed "Super Red Ram" valve covers with wire covers that I would like to trade for a set of plain valve covers with wire covers to install into my Plymouth Belvedere. Anyone want to do a trade? I can't sell them because I need some kind of valve cover to use on the motor.
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56D500boy
Posted 2020-11-21 1:18 PM (#605887 - in reply to #605879)
Subject: Re: Dodge Hemi Valve Covers



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Powerflite - 2020-11-21 8:39 AM I have a set of embossed "Super Red Ram" valve covers with wire covers that I would like to trade for a set of plain valve covers with wire covers to install into my Plymouth Belvedere. Anyone want to do a trade? I can't sell them because I need some kind of valve cover to use on the motor.


Okay 270 SUPER RED RAM decal valve cover people. This is your chance to get the much cooler embossed valve covers that you can make to look like these and Nathan can add that rare "SUPER HIGH FIRE" decal (see below) to some flat ones. Everybody wins






(SuperHighFireForNathan_TrialNo1.jpg)



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Powerflite
Posted 2020-11-21 4:29 PM (#605896 - in reply to #604867)
Subject: Re: Dodge Hemi Valve Covers



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Thanks Dave. I've never seen that decal on a Plymouth before. I suspect that it's a re-creation by a Plymouth owner because it's spelled wrong. It should be "Hy-Fire". Also, Plymouth used a different script on the air cleaner. Nevertheless, I like the idea.
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56D500boy
Posted 2020-11-21 6:36 PM (#605902 - in reply to #605896)
Subject: Re: Dodge Hemi Valve Covers



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Powerflite - 2020-11-21 1:29 PM
Thanks Dave. I've never seen that decal on a Plymouth before. I suspect that it's a re-creation by a Plymouth owner because it's spelled wrong. It should be "Hy-Fire". Also, Plymouth used a different script on the air cleaner. Nevertheless, I like the idea.


Not a Plymouth owner. *Me*. And about 5 minutes before I posted it. Here's my second try (still need work - I don't have the OE Hy-Fire font)





Edited by 56D500boy 2020-11-21 6:40 PM




(SuperHighFireForNathan_TrialNo2.jpg)



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