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Holley's new 2-Piece Aluminum Valve Covers (Hides Coils) >
I was really interested in the new Holley 2-Piece valve covers after one of our forum members ("hmmmm16417") stated that he was going to purchase a set of these.
The lower section of the valve covers obviously function like normal valve covers and isolate the oil from the top of the heads, but the upper section of the valve covers hide the coil packs and associated wiring.
They are pricey at $450 per set, but they would sure clean up the engine for anyone that is considering removing there OEM fuel rail covers.
In my case, since I have a top-mounted blower on my GS, I can't use the OEM fuel rail covers anymore, so these new 2-piece valve covers would really be just the ticket for me.
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Here is a photo that the forum member posted awhile back, with these new valve covers installed on his engine:
Here is my engine now with just the standard Holley "Tall" aluminum valve covers installed .... Not bad, but I think it would look better if the coil packs were hidden:
Look into this conversion. Cost a little more, but I think it’s better because you can pick whichever style SBC valve cover you like versus being stuck with the Holley design.
Just an FYI, they are NOT a simple bolt on valve cover. the driver side was a PITA!
1. the valve cover hits the alternator, so you have to extend the top bracket of the alternator to get it to fit. You also have to grind out some of the bottom alternator bracket.
2. I had to cut the bottom of the cover so it would go on since there is no room to feed the angled coils out of the holes (see blue lines on pic below) - passenger side wasn't bad at all - no mods needed
3. if you want to maintain the safety brackets that prevent rails from popping up in the event of an accident, you have to modify them to fit around the cover (PITA)
4. There is no oil fill cap on the outside, so you have to pull the coil cover to fill the oil....and they are on the firewall side
5. as I was installing them, the red paint was starting to flake off where the lines and "holley" is machined. not real noticeable unless you're looking for it, but for the price I was not Happy one bit. Unfortunately, I had already modified them before I noticed.
Edit: I'm not sure your fuel rails would clear, it would be close.
They don't look bad, and I'm debating if relocating the coils would have been easier...... not sure. It's definitely a unique look and I can guarantee no one else in my area has them. hahahaha
I'm still working on the final version of my alternator bracket. Luckily I have the chrome shield cover that hides the modified bracket.
Last edited by hmmmm16417; 02-11-2019 at 08:41 PM.
Just an FYI, they are NOT a simple bolt on valve cover. the driver side was a PITA!
1. the valve cover hits the alternator, so you have to extend the top bracket of the alternator to get it to fit. You also have to grind out some of the bottom alternator bracket.
2. I had to cut the bottom of the cover so it would go on since there is no room to feed the angled coils out of the holes (see blue lines on pic below) - passenger side wasn't bad at all - no mods needed
3. if you want to maintain the safety brackets that prevent rails from popping up in the event of an accident, you have to modify them to fit around the cover (PITA)
4. There is no oil fill cap on the outside, so you have to pull the coil cover to fill the oil....and they are on the firewall side
5. as I was installing them, the red paint was starting to flake off where the lines and "holley" is machined. not real noticeable unless you're looking for it, but for the price I was not Happy one bit. Unfortunately, I had already modified them before I noticed.
Edit: I'm not sure your fuel rails would clear, it would be close.
They don't look bad, and I'm debating if relocating the coils would have been easier...... not sure. It's definitely a unique look and I can guarantee no one else in my area has them. hahahaha
I'm still working on the final version of my alternator bracket. Luckily I have the chrome shield cover that hides the modified bracket.
Look into this conversion. Cost a little more, but I think it’s better because you can pick whichever style SBC valve cover you like versus being stuck with the Holley design.
Look into this conversion. Cost a little more, but I think it’s better because you can pick whichever style SBC valve cover you like versus being stuck with the Holley design.
Well, I am very disappointed in that the Holley 2-piece valve covers need to be cut up like that to make them work. Not to mention the fact that the alternator bracket also needs to be modified.
For the price of these Holley valve covers, you would think that Holley would manufacture them so they would not need all the additional fabrication.
Jeeeze ... Don't these companies even try these parts out on various cars before selling them to the public?
Well, I will pass on these valve covers!
A big thumbs-up to "hmmmm16417" for posting a very good review of the problems he encountered
Well, I am very disappointed in that the Holley 2-piece valve covers need to be cut up like that to make them work. Not to mention the fact that the alternator bracket also needs to be modified.
For the price of these Holley valve covers, you would think that Holley would manufacture them so they would not need all the additional fabrication.
Jeeeze ... Don't these companies even try these parts out on various cars before selling them to the public?
Well, I will pass on these valve covers!
A big thumbs-up to the OP for posting a very good review of the problems he encountered
I had the same thoughts. Maybe since they are "vintage" style, they assume they will be used on OLD cars with LS swaps and they have TONS of extra room ? Either way, they should AT LEAST put something that it may not fit some newer vehicles
I'm probably going to send an email to let them know
Well, I am very disappointed in that the Holley 2-piece valve covers need to be cut up like that to make them work. Not to mention the fact that the alternator bracket also needs to be modified.
For the price of these Holley valve covers, you would think that Holley would manufacture them so they would not need all the additional fabrication.
Jeeeze ... Don't these companies even try these parts out on various cars before selling them to the public?
Well, I will pass on these valve covers!
A big thumbs-up to "hmmmm16417" for posting a very good review of the problems he encountered
.
LS motors are used in a LOT of different applications. These are LS valve covers, not corvette valve covers. They are going to fit some great, and others need modification or just won't work. Nothing to get pissy with Holley about. I'm sure they know exactly what they are doing, and selling retro style (imo ugly as sin) valve covers to modern corvette owners probably isn't high on their list, when they have tons of other valve cover options that fit a vette just fine.
Coils don't like heat, so for that reason alone I would skip these as it can't be good cooking the coils like that.
They look good, but to me, they are kinda out of place on a newer Corvette with a black plastic intake between them. They would look great with a tunnel ram between them in a C3, T bucket, or older muscle car though. Paint them black instead of red, and they'd look better IMO.
Last edited by Zapp Brannigan; 01-18-2020 at 07:06 AM.
02-11-2019, 10:41 AM
Holley's new 2-Piece Aluminum Valve Covers (Hides Coils) >
