I know in 87 the TPI engines had silver or gray valve covers, and it seems to hold true in 89 from a parts car I got some TPI stuff. I was looking at a 92 T/A that had black valve covers. My LG4 engine and LO3 Engines both had Black too, but this is about TPI ONLY!!

who has what, and what year did they go from gray to black or did they?

John

 

I've owned an 87 IROC 5.0 TPI, Silver

88 IROC 5.7 TPI, Silver

89 IROC 5.0 TPI, Silver

89 RS 5.0 TBI, Black

I could be wrong, but I think all the Tuned Port engines had silver V/Cs, the rest had black.

 

All TPI's had silver, EXCEPT the last portion of the '92 model year. Apparently, GM ran out of silver and substituted the black. This type of substitution is also true for the runners. All TPI runners were smooth, except the last portion of the.... '92 model year. They were cast (rough). Apparently, these were used when GM exhausted their supply of smooth runners and the rough runners were taken from the Corvette.

 

Willie is 100% correct.

Here is picture of an engine in a 92 T/A vert made in the very last week of production, note the textured TPI runners AND the black valve covers...

 

85, 86, 88, 89 all silver covers.

 

Don't change those 92.

Willie, didn't you get in the 11's once or twice with the IROC-Z, I thought you did?!

 

Here's a pic of some covers from my 86 parts car that had a 305 tpi in it.

 

And from my 89 tpi 350 motor.

 

ok, that makes sence now...

thanks, keep it coming if you want.

 

My friends '92 B4C has black valve covers. Built 4/30/92.

 

My camaro has silver valve covers too.

 

Yup, my '92 'vert is the same way... black valve covers, textured runners..... gonna have to go look up the production date on it now..