Valve covers

[DeesZ]

All things being equal in condition and finish, the TURBO cam cover seems to bring more than the OHC cam cover. I base that on eBay sales over the last several years. And of course the "2400" and JDM "NISSAN" bring the most as previously mentioned. I guess it's a direct function of 'availability'. The scarce ones bring more, and the OHC covers are the most common.

Now, there is the issue of "paint" that you brought up. To what degree do you want to consider painting; the whole thing, or just some 'detailing'. Ones with a full paint job don't seem to bring very much. Let's face it, if you are buying one of these, you likely already have one on an L-Series engine. If you want it painted, you can do it yourself in the color that you want (not what someone else has chosen). There is always the issue and debate about getting paint to adhere well long-term on aluminum, too. If you want to score $$$, "polish" it. Do a nice polish job and you'll see probably between $100.00 ~ $200.00 for a simple "OHC" cover, depending upon who is in the mood to buy at the time that you offer it. It's work, but if you've got the time, well worth the effort. Personally, I think well polished aluminum has a better appearance than chrome plate.... (not wanting to argue that, it's my opinion).

I'll attach a picture I snapped last fall of some of the cam covers lurking in my garage. The one on the engine was bead media blasted, detailed with high-temp black and high-temp clear coated overall. On top, from left to right: an OHC polished and detailed with Nissan orange and black (final polishing still needs to be done), an OHC literally out-of-the-box never mounted NOS, a '2400' that has seen use and is waiting for me to decide what to do with it, and an OHC from a U-pull-it yard that had been painted then power washed (was originally gold color but nasty other stuff on top of that). The value in that bunch IMHO lies with the polished one and the "2400" one. The other OHC covers will get polished as time allows (I need to retire to get some of this stuff done).

[Go240Zags]

My 12/70 240Z - 4 speed with e88 head came with a 2400 OHC valve cover. However, it was in the hatch area and not on the non-numbers-matching engine. I probably just lucked out, it will work fine on my non-numbers-matching (L28 F54 bored w/ flat top pistons) engine for my 7/70 240Z. However, of late I've been eying the couple of Big NISSAN JDM valve covers on eBay. They've been hovering in the $200 range - one with a whitish looking powder coat (really not my style) and the other with a black chrome/gunmetal badly done paint job (described as such by the seller and illustrated in the photos). IMHO I still think $180-$199 is too much money. Might be tempted into trading my (sorta polished) 2400 OHC for an unpainted Big NISSAN one in good shape, but I bounce back and forth depending on the day. I'd think the 2400 OHC would be rarer, but maybe not since we didn't get the NISSAN one at all. They both seem to appear on eBay at about the same frequency.

[JonnyRock]

My 02/70 as the Nissan 2400 OHC cover, but it's painted black. However, the square and "Nissan 2400 OHC" are not. I'm assuming from what I've read that this is not stock, correct?

[Mike B]

My 02/70 as the Nissan 2400 OHC cover, but it's painted black. However, the square and "Nissan 2400 OHC" are not. I'm assuming from what I've read that this is not stock, correct?

The valve cover is the correct early one (Nissan 2400 OHC) for your car, but shouldn't be painted at all, just unpolished aluminum finish.

[theianmonster]

Well, my 2400 OHC valve cover is for sale, make me an offer.

[WingZr0]

How about this one?

For a LD28 block, looks a little long to me but will it fit on other s30 heads?

~Z~

[sblake01]

In a word, no.

[TomoHawk]

How about a matching oil filler cap?

[sblake01]

I don't know. I think that' actually is the cap that goes on the LD28 valve cover.

[76Datsun280z]

How about this one?

For a LD28 block, looks a little long to me but will it fit on other s30 heads?

~Z~

And the front of it looks a little wide.

[sblake01]

I think the front looks wide because the body is so narrow.

[Zs-ondabrain]

Well, my 2400 OHC valve cover is for sale, make me an offer.

Most likely the one he got from me. :stupid: :stupid: :stupid: