273 Commando Valve Cover

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JGC403

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When the valve covers were new, were the aluminum fins shinny like chrome? And what did they use to glue them onto the valve covers?
 
When the valve covers were new, were the aluminum fins shinny like chrome? And what did they use to glue them onto the valve covers?

Yes, the verticle fins were shiny chrome, but the horizontal base between the fins is silver. I glued mine on with weatherstrip adhesive....they're still there.....
 
Most any adhesive will hold better if mating surfaces have a tooth/slight roughness. So gluing those pieces to paint might not hold as good as gluing to a sanded metal surface. On a positive note, after you've forced 7mm plug wires in them, they're tethered. Wouldn't take flight even if the glue fails.
 
The factory used 2 or 3 (usually very sloppy) dabs of black RTV silicone to attach the aluminum fins. The fins came two ways, fully polished or in a 2-tone with polished fronts, backs, edges and fin tops. The fully polished versions are considerably more rare based only on what I've seen cross my bench over the years.

There were also two styles of fins. Some have solid uprights while others have two oval holes to secure the plastic wire retainers into.

There are plenty of examples here on FABO, and dozens of them on my website. Restoring Commandos is one of my specialties. These photos are of the set restored for Ulf (65DartCharger), one of our Swedish members who is the Technical Director for the International Chrysler Collectors' Association.

049.JPG


Post-assembly pic.jpg
 
I'll agree with the sloppy applied dollops. It wasn't rtv silicone on my 67 commando covers. More like the black seam sealing crap they used everywhere else, including bond the glass in the door mirrors.
 
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