Valve Covers

Performance valve covers and their original equipment counterparts are both designed to cover your engine's valvetrain, keeping out dirt and debris while keeping the engine oil inside. But that's where the similarity ends. Most modern engines have hydraulic lifters, and factory valve covers may only get removed once or twice during a standard engine's lifespan. Plus they only have to handle the stock factory engine configuration and state of tune.

In contrast performance engine valve covers are repeatedly removed and installed. Many performance and racing engines have mechanical valvetrains that require routine adjustments, and engines that are pressed to the limit regularly require repairs and rebuilding. These engines may have modified valvetrains and stock valve covers usually aren't tall enough for clearance. And while all engines develop crankcase pressure, racing engines handle it differently.

Thin, factory stamped steel valve covers can't handle repeated removal and installation without the flanges warping, which can result in leaks. Aftermarket valve covers are made stronger, from thicker stamped steel, cast aluminum, or fabricated from sheet aluminum with billet aluminum flanges, and even milled from a solid block of billet aluminum. Aftermarket load spreaders can improve the sealing of stamped steel covers, and modern composite performance gaskets can further improve sealing. T-bolts are available for some applications that allow fast valve cover removal and installation without the need for tools.

Some valvetrains can benefit from stud girdles, which prevent flex at high RPM. These increase the height of the valvetrain and taller aftermarket valve covers are available to provide the clearance. At high RPMs a considerable amount of crankcase pressure is developed, and if not relieved it can blow out gaskets and reduce power. Aftermarket valve covers have provisions for one or more breathers, and often have baffles to allow pressure but not oil to escape. Some drag racing engines use a vacuum pump to suck the air from the engine and reduce pressure, and this can be connected to the valve covers in place of breathers.

But functionality aside, we know that most performance valve covers are installed because they make your engine look much better. That's why our digital shelves are stocked with a huge selection of chrome, anodized, finned, and wrinkle finish performance valve covers, along with the performance gaskets, breathers, and fasteners needed to complete the installation. And because many modern engines have coil-on-plug ignition systems that mount the coils on the valve covers, we offer performance valve covers with coil mounts as well as remote coil mounting brackets so you can have a cleaner, better looking engine compartment.

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Valve Covers

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