Have a numbers matching 68 l36 with that noticed from previous photos it had M/T valve covers which I do not like but the PO  changed them out for chrome valve covers, during my check of the car found the were on wrong sides, I removed them to find no drippers so of course these are cheap replacements, my question is are the drippers needed to keep engine safe? Don’t mind buying correct ones

As you probably know, the drippers are to oil the rocker arm ball. I would say that it was probably a necessary thing to have on the valve cover.

1973 L-82 4 spd