clear valve covers

Mach 1 · 03-03-2002, 03:47 PM

Why doesnt somebody invent clear rocker arm covers?

The benefits are numerous, and you would think with all the high tech materials today it wouldnt be much of a problem. They have plastic intake manifolds, why not clear plastic valve covers?

k. putman · 03-03-2002, 04:17 PM

It's been done. Car Craft, Hot Rod, Popular Hot Rodding and all the other car mags had the adds in the back during the '70's. They also were available tinted blue and red.

I guess this shows my age...

1BAD89 · 03-03-2002, 11:52 PM

Because they'd soon be covered in oil, and look like crap.

fiveohpatrol · 03-04-2002, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Because they'd soon be covered in oil, and look like crap.

not if they had miniture windshield wipers in them

1BAD89 · 03-04-2002, 03:14 PM

LOL. Now maybe if you were running synthetic, you MIGHT be able to see something.

73 Mustang Boy · 03-04-2002, 03:39 PM

I have thought about taking a set of factory stamped steel valve covers and putting a plexiglass window in the top of them before. If I screw up or dont llike them I'll throw them away, they would only cost a few $$ to make.

Mach 1 · 03-04-2002, 06:33 PM

Put some kind of oil resistant coating on the inside of the valve covers so the oil drains clean and clear from the surface, problem solved, but i guess would be expensive

84LX89GT · 03-05-2002, 12:09 AM

A guy i used to know was assemling a 302 to put in his ranger and he ended up finding some clear valve covers to put on it.....of course he moved to denver before i got an opportunity to see them so i have no idea what brand they are. I think it'd be pretty cool to have clear valve covers though, and you'd probably have to take them off and clean them every once in a while (ok maybe more than "once in a while").

Apparently it looks really cool...but i haven't seen it myself so i wouldn't know.

joe4speed · 03-05-2002, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mach 1
Put some kind of oil resistant coating on the inside of the valve covers so the oil drains clean and clear from the surface, problem solved, but i guess would be expensive

Pretty cool... I'd pay for that!

WADS56 · 03-05-2002, 01:35 AM

I would get a set. If I had a 1000.00 Jessel valvetrain setup I would want to show it off not cover it up

PKRWUD · 03-05-2002, 10:30 PM

This has been done before. I've tried it myself by adding a plexiglass top to a set of covers that had the tops removed. it was alot of work, and a waste of time. The problem is that plexiglass becomes permenantly "fogged" due to the heat. Before long, they look just plain ugly, and you can't see anything anyway. I met a guy who tried something similar using pyrex glass instead of plexiglass, and he said they were a waste of time as well. Right after start-up, condensation forms in the valve covers, and fogs the glass. Between that and the oil, he said you couldn't see enough to justify doing it. That and the fact that it really sucked when he dropped his torque wrench on one and cracked the glass.

Take care,
-Chris

Oldschoolpony · 03-09-2002, 01:36 AM

Just make it a total loss oiling system . No valve covers, alot of smoke and a few cases of oil, Then you'd have MPG and MPQ
miles per quart

03-03-2002, 03:47 PM	#1
Mach 1 Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Location: Georgia Posts: 3,866	clear valve covers Why doesnt somebody invent clear rocker arm covers? The benefits are numerous, and you would think with all the high tech materials today it wouldnt be much of a problem. They have plastic intake manifolds, why not clear plastic valve covers? __________________ 2002 GT 1993 GT (SOLD) '93 Mustang GT RHC member #142

03-04-2002, 03:39 PM	#6
73 Mustang Boy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Georgia Posts: 84	I have thought about taking a set of factory stamped steel valve covers and putting a plexiglass window in the top of them before. If I screw up or dont llike them I'll throw them away, they would only cost a few $$ to make. __________________ 73 coupe, 351W, GT-40 heads, edlebrock 750, offenhauser intake, .488 lift cam, 2.5 exhaust, 2 chamber flowmasters, blah, blah, blah...

03-04-2002, 06:33 PM	#7
Mach 1 Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Location: Georgia Posts: 3,866	Put some kind of oil resistant coating on the inside of the valve covers so the oil drains clean and clear from the surface, problem solved, but i guess would be expensive __________________ 2002 GT 1993 GT (SOLD) '93 Mustang GT RHC member #142

03-05-2002, 12:09 AM	#8
84LX89GT Mustangs Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 1,938	A guy i used to know was assemling a 302 to put in his ranger and he ended up finding some clear valve covers to put on it.....of course he moved to denver before i got an opportunity to see them so i have no idea what brand they are. I think it'd be pretty cool to have clear valve covers though, and you'd probably have to take them off and clean them every once in a while (ok maybe more than "once in a while"). Apparently it looks really cool...but i haven't seen it myself so i wouldn't know. __________________ 2005 Suzuki Hayabusa GSX1300-R 1980 Ford Thunderbird - 255 V8 ported heads, 5.0L ported stock headers, O.R. H-pipe and Flowmaster 2-chambers, dual roller timing chain hi-po Mack Truck hood emblem 1985 Mustang GT 5.0L T5, F-303, GT40p, headers, off-road h, flowmasters, MSD stuff, etc. Sold 02/06/04 1989 Mustang GT ET: 13.304@102.29 mph (5-24-03) Sold - 1998 Mustang Cobra coupe, 1/4 mile - street tires: 13.843@103.41 (bone stock)

03-05-2002, 01:35 AM	#10
WADS56 gear banger Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: CHICAGO Posts: 1,144	I would get a set. If I had a 1000.00 Jessel valvetrain setup I would want to show it off not cover it up __________________ 79 Hatch: NA 347, Stage 2 Canfield Heads, Victor JR. Intake, Blueprinted Holley 750 HP, Solid Roller Cam, Shooting for 10's on motor 93 LX: Tremec, dual friction clutch, fms flywheel, Hedman shorties, O/R H-pipe Ricer hater's club member #49

03-03-2002, 04:17 PM	#2
k. putman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Homewood, AL Posts: 30	It's been done. Car Craft, Hot Rod, Popular Hot Rodding and all the other car mags had the adds in the back during the '70's. They also were available tinted blue and red. I guess this shows my age...

03-03-2002, 11:52 PM	#3
1BAD89 Tubbed and Juiced Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 1,861	Because they'd soon be covered in oil, and look like crap.

03-04-2002, 03:14 PM	#5
1BAD89 Tubbed and Juiced Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 1,861	LOL. Now maybe if you were running synthetic, you MIGHT be able to see something.

03-05-2002, 10:30 PM	#11
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	This has been done before. I've tried it myself by adding a plexiglass top to a set of covers that had the tops removed. it was alot of work, and a waste of time. The problem is that plexiglass becomes permenantly "fogged" due to the heat. Before long, they look just plain ugly, and you can't see anything anyway. I met a guy who tried something similar using pyrex glass instead of plexiglass, and he said they were a waste of time as well. Right after start-up, condensation forms in the valve covers, and fogs the glass. Between that and the oil, he said you couldn't see enough to justify doing it. That and the fact that it really sucked when he dropped his torque wrench on one and cracked the glass. Take care, -Chris __________________ Webmaster: Rice Haters Club Jim Porter Racing Peckerwoods Pit Stop Support Your Local RED & WHITE!

03-09-2002, 01:36 AM	#12
Oldschoolpony Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Gainsville,Fl Posts: 229	Just make it a total loss oiling system . No valve covers, alot of smoke and a few cases of oil, Then you'd have MPG and MPQ miles per quart __________________ http://www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/...splay.cgi?1546

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