Valve cover differences

[24OZ]

Hi Guys,

I haven't posted for ages on here, hope the people I know are all well.

Interesting discussion which is also going on at HybridZ.

I am curious to know whether companies such as Kamikoto and Bob Sharp Racing etc.. adapted the standard valve cover (by shaving off the standard letters and glueing on their own design) or did they create a completely new casting? Can someone who has one please confirm.

It doesn't seems economically feasable to create a completely new castings just for a logo yet they look cast to me.

Below is the Bob Sharp cover, which I much prefer over the Kamikoto, if anyone has one for sale then please let me know!

[HS30-H]

alan, can you provide more information on this valve cover? How much is it worth, how rare is it?

...where can i get one?

Hi olie,

Mine is at least 15 years old now, and I can't remember which company it was that had my version cast. I think I remember buying it from 'Escort', but I don't believe it was 'their' version.

The 'original' casting pattern was paid for by Kakimoto Racing I believe, and the others are all taken from modified versions of that pattern - cast at the same foundry. Probably a case of the foundry keeping some ownership rights to the pattern and making their money back by letting other companies have their own versions that didn't infringe whatever rights Kakimoto still held. That's just an educated guess though.

Kameari Engine Works in Yashio City, Saitama prefecture still sell the 'DATSUN 2400' version with 'OHC' on the front. Price is 50,400 JPY including sales tax. I know the company well and have been dealing with them for many years now.

I haven't seen the 'DATSUN 3100' version on sale for some years now, and I presume they are fairly rare. This is probably due to the fact that they were cast in batches, and not enough demand for a new batch has held back production.

Bound to show up on Yahoo auctions Japan eventually if you keep your eyes open........

Sorry I can't be of more help.

Alan T.

[texasz]

You've never seen one of those before? Aftermarket, based on one of the 'Kakimoto Racing' originals.

There's one sitting on top of my engine:

What's this one say? I can only read part of it.

alan, can you provide more information on this valve cover? How much is it worth, how rare is it?

...where can i get one?

edit: just found the Kakimotoracing.co.jp website... $607(us)!!! and it doesn't even have a part number next to it.

And here's a whole nother thread on this topic: http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20901

[olie05]

What's this one say? I can only read part of it.

And here's a whole nother thread on this topic: http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20901

Hope alan doesn't mind me answering this question... but it says "datsun 3100" and then "OHC" on the cam pulley hump.

thanks for the link texasz

[HS30-H]

Some comparison pics:

[texasz]

Some comparison pics:

Any real reason for it being so squared off compaired to the stock/original valve covers?

[sakijo]

Quote:

The Skyline 2000GT (GC10 series)

Just like all other derivatives of the C10 series, the GC10 (G standing for GT) was basically planned by Prince, although it was later badged Nissan Skyline 2000GT. It was introduced in 1968 (2 months after the 1500) and first came in 4-door sedan (GC10) and 5-door wagon versions and from 1970 on also with two doors (KGC10). The car was almost the same as the preceding S54 GT-A model, featuring a 6-cylinder engine instead of the previously common 4-cylinder. The Skyline 2000GT got the L20 engine, a 1998ccm OHC inline-6 with 105hp.... End Quote:

The quote also implies that Nissan made GT versions of the wagon, which they did not. Nissan only made them as 2 door hardtops and 4 door sedans.

Back to the discussion at hand, my 71 Skyline has the "Nissan OHC" cam cover; but I have seen the "Nissan 2000 OHC" cover. Since the basic engine is the same, L20, L24, L26 and L28 cam covers all interchange. The popular one here seems to be the JDM one with NISSAN in big block letters on it.

[somecreep]

Attached are some more photos of the Kakimoto style valve covers...

[somecreep]

There was a BOB SHARP valve cover on a car on ebay a while back, George. Attached is a photo from that auction. Looks like they were $119 new.

[26th-Z]

Thanks for all the pictures! This thread has been quite informative for me. Who would-a thunk? Valve cover art has been popular throughout the development of the internal combustion engine. It is the best way to advertise and present one's name and business image. They are not all that difficult to make. The cost is in the pattern and for that reason, I would guess the Kameari type cover is squared. However, if you think about it, the placement of the oil spout does not have to be located at the front and the graphics could be anything.

But now that we are talking about it, I know people who are looking for Nissan 2000 OHC, Bob Sharp Racing, and I'll have to ask Her Majesty if she would like to sport a Kameari cover. She might like that. If anyone wants to part with a 2000 OHC or BSR cover, PM me.

[HS30-H]

Any real reason for it being so squared off compaired to the stock/original valve covers?

Yes, its to make more space for those "BIG" cams that we sometimes hear people talking about........

26th-Z probably touched on the closest reason to the truth. Curves cost more money. Straighter lines are cheaper.

[HS30-H]

Carl,

I asked for your response to some questions I put to you. You seem to be ignoring this request so far.

Do I take it that you have no answer?

This topic is close to my heart. I think the Nissan 'L-Gata' engine was a great basic engine design that is pretty much World-renowned for its flexibility, reliability and durability - let alone the fact that it was able to be turned into a race winner. But ( just like the situation with the design of the S30-series Z ) almost nobody knows the name of the key designer behind it, and its true heritage and evolution is distorted by rogue data and advertising copy. I think this is a great shame.

I'm going to embark on starting a new thread topic in the near future, as I think this subject warrants it. But I also think that the points raised in this thread need to be settled before it goes into the archives and gets used as reference material in the future.

So Carl - I'm asking you politely - I think it requires further comment from you. In my opinion, that's what these forums are for.

Alan T.