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Re-chrome valve cover ???

fad64b

Senior Member
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Has anyone here had a TR3 or TR4 valve cover re-chromed?? The DPO painted the valve cover probably because it was pitted. I would like to have an original looking valve cover on my TR3. Is there such a thing as reasonably priced re-chrome and a recommended shop.

Thanks
Frank
 
Yor best bet might be to buy one on e-bay. I bought one for a TR4, because I want to put in a PCV system in the TR3. The chrome was in good shape, and I got it for $10. They come up all the time on e-bay. You should be able to get a nice one for less then $20. Less money then a re-chrome.
 
I bought my TR6 chrome valve cover off of ebay. You might check there. There are a few places that do rechroming but its not cheap. Do a search from Google and a few will pop up. I believe there is a place in Tenn. Good Luck
 
I certainly wouldn't recommend a cheap job. I had a valve cover re-chromed on a TR3 I rebuilt. It only took a few weeks for the rust to bubble back through.
 
I would guess anywhere from $30 to $75. There is no such thing as an inexpensive re-plating job. I agree that perhaps your best bet is ebay I see them on there all the time.
Good luck, Tinkerman
 
I have received one estimate for re-chrome on a valve cover and it was $230.00
 
Proud of their stuff eh?

Looking like ebay is sounding real good!
 
Is your car a TR2 ? What is the TS number ? If it's an early TR2, the valve cover should be painted black. That's the way they left the factory. See attachment.
 

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[ QUOTE ]
Is your car a TR2 ? What is the TS number ? If it's an early TR2, the valve cover should be painted black. That's the way they left the factory. See attachment.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, in Bill Piggots book, he states that in April '57 at TS18230E, is the offcial point at which the black painted rocker covers were chromed for ALL markets. He also states that possibly all US market cars had them from the start of TR3 production at TS8637 (Oct '55).

Being that your car is a '56 TR3, I guess it could go either way, but if you want chrome, that would be appropriate. Personally, I feel that the chrome valve cover adds alot of flash to the engine compartment.
 
That sucka looks pretty good. Although he only shows one side.

Edit: How come I see more pictures then I did when I first looked at that listing. He must've heard me complaining about only one picture. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif
 
That is, of course, a valve cover for a TR3B or early TR4 (push-on cap at rear, no vent tube).

It is nice looking and the seller has a very good reputation (I have bought from him many times) so I would expect this one will be expensive.
 
That's an even later TR4-4A valve cover. It has the pipe for the PCV system and a twist on type oil cap.

Here's another one that looks good, but, again it's the later TR-3B, early TR4 type. One of the holes in the top looks slightly walyoed.

Here's the correct type with the filler up front, but it's in really bad shape, and he has a buy it now for $50. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nonono.gif
 
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