Thread: To Chrome or Not to Chrome?

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I have a 1979 Chevy C10 pickup with a create SBC 350. This is my daily driver, but I'm also restoring it. I'm pulling the motor soon to prep it for painting and I was going to put on a chrome dress kit, which includes the valve covers, timing chain cover, air breather, and Alternator. I was also looking at upgrading the intake, but a mechanic friend of mine keeps telling me that since it is my daily driver that I shouldn't go with chrome valve covers or replace the intake, because they tend to leak, and also won't dissipate the engine heat as well. He says that Chrome is more for show cars and not daily drivers. Is this true?

With all due respect to your mechanic friend - he's dead wrong. I would encourage you to buy high quality parts and follow installation instructions carefully and you can have a beautiful engine without leaks.

Most every car I every owned has been customized to my liking which includes after market bits and pieces. Again, the key is quality components. The $39.95 kit from your local Pep Boys will be more likely to leak than name brand parts from Summit. I've used chrome GM valve covers on several cars and never had a problem. They run about $50. Include good breathers at about $10 each, FelPro gaskets and chrome bolts and for less than a hundred bucks you've added a touch of class.

The timing chain cover is a bit trickier. Obviously, water pump must be removed as well as the harmonic damner. It's hard to get a good seal sometimes at the pan without removing it.

My avatar shows a SBC with what you're looking for. Some chrome, billet pulleys and after market intake (Holley Z-28). I've replicated this look on several engines without leaks or cooling issues.

Have fun, take your time and let us see the results!
Glenn

My concern with a DD and chrome underhood parts is rust and crud. Good ones wont leak any more the tha OEM steel pieces, but....they WILL rust - quickly. For a DD, a good paint job will suffice plus be much easier to keep clean then the chrome versions. Mine are - gasp, gag - Billet Specialties aluminum (those valve covers are not the Billet Specialties that are on the engine now, but inexpensive Summit's).

IC2 wrote:

Mine are - gasp, gag - Billet Specialties aluminum

Well now, there's a confession you won't find over on the HAMB!

As to Chrome engine parts, I've always heard the same stuff about leakage of water pumps, intakes, and charging issues with chrome alternator housings, etc.

My experience is that if you buy quality chrome (or billet) parts, install them per instructions, you won't have anymore problems with them than you would with non-coated parts. I have several chrome parts on my engine and have never had any problems.

Just my 2 cents.

Originally Posted by mopar34

IC2 wrote:


Well now, there's a confession you won't find over on the HAMB!


Just my 2 cents.

Bob - the secret is out and now you know why I seldom frequent HAMB

Didn't some of the muscle cars have chrome valve covers from the factory?

Originally Posted by Steves32

Didn't some of the muscle cars have chrome valve covers from the factory?

Yep, Fords with the HiPo big blocks, GTO's (ex's '68) ,348 and 409 Chebbies just to name a few. Interestingly though, not all versions, even the same year had them. My early '63 Ford with a 406 had chrome, my buddies late '63 427 didn't. My '68 Torino GT with 390/325Hp did, the standard 390/300Hp didn't.