Wondering if anyone has any opinions on the reproduction vs. the original GM aluminum finned valve covers (69 302 style.) I see both available from restoration dealers but have not been able to see any in person to compare. Thanks.

I have had two sets of them both GM performance and they were quite good. I am not sure I have seen any reproductions of that valve cover. If you know of a supplier I would like to take a look at them. Most are about 170 per side for the GMs. The last set I bought were in the 80 to 100 range. I also bought the repro Z/28 flat hood air cleaner and all the hardware to hook it up. I found the repro stuff to be very nice.

I have the repro's. Like em a lot. unlike the originals, they are perfect and polished to a mirror finish.

Jim, Where did you get them and what was the cost? Thanks

D&R Classics has the repros for $129 and they have a 15% off coupon this month. Seems to be about the best price I've found.
http://www.drclassic.com/catalog/Camaro/Underhood/M00128-R.html

D&R, $129.00
http://home.comcast.net/~Jimragtop2/clean/car4.jpg
I've never polished them, just clean m with Windex or wipe em down with this magic stainless steel polish I got.

Jim, Another question. Where did you get that intake manifold? Thanks

unlike the originals, they are perfect and polished to a mirror finish.

hmmm...interesting...
so that is why mine have as a few casting defects? ...and also seems the Alloy is of a composition that doesnt want to polish up quite as well to a deep mirror finish a well as a lot of other Aluminium bits and peices I have done over the yrs

Jim, Another question. Where did you get that intake manifold? Thanks

That intake is just a performer rpm, ir was an impulse purchase at autozone, think I went in there for gaskets when I was swapping heads.

BTW, the entire top of that motor will be for sale (except the valve covers) in about a month, heads, cam and valvetrain, manifold carb, distributor, the works. PM me if you're interested.