73 - 80 valve cover ends

Just curious - does anyone know when Kawasaki added the half circle shapes to the ends of the valve cover to match the shape of the cam caps?  The Z1's have smooth ends, not sure about KZ900's.  Maybe it was changed with the first KZ1000's ?  Can't tell by just looking up part nos for different years. ( I know they'll interchange, I've had both styles on my Z1 )

As far as i know,, the change in style of valve cover came with the first Z1000 / KZ1000...

I agree with Joe.

Thanks, that would make sense.  Personally I like the early version with the smooth ends.   

Those are waay harder to find then the "typical" Z covers. I don't know exactly when they started during the 1977 KZ1000 production, 1977 KZ1000 was a split-year, changing subtle stuff. But..No KZ900 had them..unless one might be found on the "left-over" 1977 LTD900? Was it just a curious question or are You selling/looking?

Thanks Clay. I'm just curious, I have both kinds.  One early style with crappy flaking chrome from the late 70's that I took off the bike and I'll see if I can revive. (That one will probably just end up a nice dust cover for a spare head, haha)  Currently I've got a clean later style on the bike, just bought a real nice early one to replace it.  Didn't really need it but what the hell, I'm 70 years old and I like them better.

Those "chromed" ones can hide a lot of imperfections underneath, won't know till you remove it. But like me, the flakier the chrome the easier is to remove. That's how all those ex-wives of mine "released" from my shiny wallet, ha.  

So, I have a 1977 KZ1000A and a 1975 Z2A.  The Z2 has the smooth ended cam covers while the 1977 has the raised half-circle cam cover ends. Both covers appear to be original to the motorcycles.

Yeah, the chrome on the valve cover is mostly all flaked off with the rough pitted aluminum exposed, I had it stored in a buddy's garage for a few years before retrieving it from his ex.  Never knew how damp it got in there. (turns out the roof had a big hole in it)  Probably would have been better off outside! Most likely that piece will end up as garage art. I replaced all the other crappy chrome pieces with good used bare aluminum ones.  Definitely was worth it reviving the bike though!  It's like going back in time whenever I ride it. 

Yesss, Scotty,....i like to ride my "time-machines" always again, whenever i do it, it feels great and unbeatable !

Vapor blasting might work wonders on that early cover.  The polished ends can usually be brought back with TLC by increasingly-finer wet sanding followed by jewelers rouge.  If there's deeper pits in the polished areas, they probably wont be noticeable from 10 ft. at a glance.

Good Ridin'
slmjim & Z1BEBE

Thanks, but it's probably too weathered and pitted to put much effort into.  Also, it was part of an "exchange" chrome kit so it wasn't the original on the bike.  I've replaced all the chrome items from the kit with good used plain aluminum ones.