Chrome 1970 340 Valve Covers....Hustle Stuff Direct Connection or Factory?

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66340SEDAN

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I have these chrome 1970-71 340 valve covers, they have the wire loom brackets on them....my question is are these vintage Hustle Stuff or Direct Connection parts? Did these ever come stock on an cars, possibly the AAR or T/A? Or maybe someone had the stock ones chrome plated? It’s vintage chrome and looks like it’s original to me but I’m not sure I’ve seen these before (Sorry I haven’t cleaned them up yet so they are a little dirty) Any input would be great, thanks!

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I had a lot of 340 covers over the years including Direct connection. I have never see them with the 340 wire loom brackets. I would say they are Hustle Stuff. Or someone had 340 covers chromed. Also the Direct Connections were the tall style in the center of the cover.

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Check what Little Red Express valve covers look like. IIRC, that’s the only chrome small block valve cover from factory.
 
I think I have a Hustle Stuff catalog, I’ll look it up later if I can find it. I know the DC ones usually didn’t have wire loom tabs and those covers were different, I’m leaning towards Hustle Stuff parts....
 
Someone had them chromed... LRT doesn't have the 340 only wire loom bracket
 
These are the Direct Connection Chrome Covers including the Chrome fill cap and the breather.

I still have the invoice from 1983 when I bought them!



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Dang, I looked in my books and didn’t see anything, might need a 1971 book. My hustle stuff one is dated 69, shows 1970’s on the cover but not many 70 parts inside, other book is 1968. I have some Ed Hamburger catalogs too but they don’t list any valve covers LOL

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I have a set of those exact chrome valve covers from post # 1 and the newspaper they were wrapped in was dated Feb. 2 1979. I have my original 340 valve covers and they have the exact vertical loom on that 1 cover. I bought those covers from Gratiot auto back then. They were a big Mopar dealer of parts and eventually vanished. There was another dealer called Couch, I bought a 340 six pack from him back in the very early 70's. He may have bought surplus or over runs on items from the Mfrg. and sold it reasonable.
 
Look like Lil Red Express Valve covers.....hustle stuff ones were 68 style covers with looms on top
 
I have set as well . Except the drivers side cover looks more like a DC one. I have another set of DCs on my Swinger .
My old 73 340 4sp Dart had tall chrome DCs to clear the Norris W2 rockers . Wish I still had those….

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My invoice was,dated 1984 and was inside the box of the DC covers. I had them since 1984. Best shots I have of them without going outside to take more pics.

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Those in catalog have heat shield like all 340 covers and 273 -4barrel covers....really like and never seen....
 
Mine don't have that vertical heat shield on the top cover you show, but do have the two loom holders.
 
Mine don't have that vertical heat shield on the top cover you show, but do have the two loom holders.
maybe your are from 2 different pairs? The one side is a newer style, but most would never know the difference once installed!
 
No, because 1 cover has the high loom holder and the other cover has the smaller holder. So they are a set.
 
I think I have a Hustle Stuff catalog, I’ll look it up later if I can find it. I know the DC ones usually didn’t have wire loom tabs and those covers were different, I’m leaning towards Hustle Stuff parts....

I have had about 4 set of smooth DC Valve covers. None of them had the looms. I still have a set now collecting dust with everything else....

JW
 
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