Just as my title says, with all of the repos being sold, how do you correctly identify original 426 hemi valve covers

Thanks

What year?

1968 Super stock

68 SS is the exact same as 66-69 Street Hemi. There are some subtle differences between reproductions and originals, but not easy to describe. Post some pics of what you found and I can likely tell you which you are looking at.

outer side

inside

I'm going to say 95% likely that they are restored originals, I zoomed in on the wire looms, look like the real deal. Having said that some closer photos would be needed to see better detail to be 100% certain.

*Edit, I don't recommend you buy these before seeing them in person or getting some closer pics first for further input (if for sale somewhere?). Here are pics of an original set for comparisons, the plug wire loom location have varied slightly on reproductions I've seen, the differences are subtle.

Thanks Scott. I thought they looked correct.

Okay, I have the same question as the original poster, how do you identify original chrome 426 hemi valve covers versus reproductions? I see comments about spark plug wire loom location, but nothing specific. Pictures and descriptions comparing the originals with reproductions would help a lot!
I have a set of chrome valve covers that came on my 66 Hemi Satellite, and I am replacing them with a correct original black wrinkle finish set. I will put the chrome ones up for sale once I am sure that the black ones function correctly, but I need to know what I have!

Reproductions have the wire loom in same direction, like they only made one cover to fit both sides.

My money is they are repops. No street hemi came with chrome valve covers from factory

Buddy of mine is sending me these.
Known oem but chromed A LOOOOOONG time ago

My plan for them is sand them down, Paint them wrinkle black and hang them on the garage wall

So they are originals that someone re-chromed?

maybe Busterts could be direct connection covers sold thru dealer parts counter.
i remember a friend buying chromed hemi valve covers thru the parts department in the late 80's that looked like his with no harness tabs welded on them like gtx6970 pic has.

I saw Mancini announced they were bringing back the repros, I hadn't seen any on the market for quite awhile and was looking for spares.
(Repros or obvious aftermarket are perfectly fine for my situation).

I have known repros, they were purchased from New York Restomod, from 2018/19 timeframe. They're in my build thread.
Putting them under a microscope probably won't help because I don't have any originals to compare them with (and probably never will),
but the main difference that stands out to me in the pictures is the wire looms seem to be noticeably larger than the pictures of originals.

I'd post pictures here but you know where to find them, and the purists already hate me plenty enough

The ones on my car are the late 90s early 2000s MP versions

How they compare to originals , I have no idea. And really dont care.

No wire clamps on drivers side cover on my car. And the spark plug wire bracket is welded differently than pass side

I have 3 sets, one chrome with no looms and two black, I’ll go look and maybe get a picture if different.
Checked mine are all repops.
Pictures are of originals on a 67 GTX, notice how the plug wire holders face the two back wires, not at an angle. Plus it has the holders along bottom of cover for sensor wires on pass side only.

I've a question about the "wrinkle" finish.
Does the factory finish vary? I've seen "original" with correct loom orientation and sensor clips have everything from a heavy crinkle (like powder coat or a heavy lay of mr gasket wrinkle paint), to that less texture as pictured cudaman, all the way to something more like a suede texture.
I know we painted a lot of stuff with wrinkle paint back in the 60's (said to dissipate heat better than smooth or chrome finishes) and we set the oven at varying temps to get more or less texture.
Was there varying surface finish between, or within part allotments?

Ive never seen nos hemi valve covers in person.

But I have seen a few different NOS air cleaners and they all were slightly different from one another

So odds are there will be no 2 exactly alike , IMO

Yes, the finish varied. I have even seen some that had orange paint transferred from the ground cable.

My 80,000 mile '71 GTX had one spot of orange paint that must have been 1/4" thick for what ever reason. And of course the water pump area often had little to no paint in less obvious places. When these things went down the line, time was the driving force, not quality.