What are your favorite 318 valve covers?

-

Corrupt_Reverend

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2012
Messages
279
Reaction score
14
Location
California
Tax return arrived so it's time to take care of all the little pesky problems on my dart. One of these problems is a set of leaky stamped pos valve covers.

So, what are your favorite valve covers? I've been leaning toward the cast MOPAR covers just because they are the easiest to find, but I have no idea as to how well they seal/prevent leaks. The engine is just a plain jane 318. Nothing special.

I already did a little searching on here and have decided on the mopar performance steel core gaskets. Now I just need to choose some good valve covers.
 
I have always liked the mopar performance covers. I have had many black wrinkle and just installed some polished covers on my stroker motor. They look great now, but I got an idea i may have to polish them from time to time to keep them looking that way. The Mopar performance covers are readily available. I sold a NIB pair for $100 shipped. I wish I had kept them now, but im sure someone put them to good use. I see used covers for $75-$100 all the time
 
The Direct Connection chromed set without any wire placeholders. I went to Napa and got the universal/ GM 4 wire organizers and put some loops on the sheet metal stems that slide into the organizers, to hold the alternator wiring off of the valve cover, too.

Took a set of the DC chromed covers, masked, glass beaded and painted with rustoleum enamel, reduced with basecoat reducer, color sanded and hand polished.

318breather_zpsbed51fbb.jpeg


Subtle over stock. The seal is what makes all the difference, regardless of what type you've got. $9 square chrome breather, $2 kendall oil sticker and a PCV valve on the other side at the back, going to the rear of the carb. The breather/ oil filler has a 90° and a hose that runs up to the air cleaner. It came with a rubber grommet, open at the front, but I hate having oil residue on everything, so I closed the system. Cycles like it should, no oil leaks, no burning oil.

These are the best gaskets I've used. Not a single leak on them, because of their construction and a good price -

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/edl-7592/overview/

Load spreaders help on cork and rubber, but I prefer the Edelbrocks over both.
 
I got a set of some old Mickey Thompson valve covers that I put on my 360, I sprayed them black with a wrinkle finish and grabbed a belt sander and machined the tops of the fins, they look really good on the motor.
 
I would be cautious of them. You don't know who made them and how good they are. Are they flat or not? How did they fixture them to make sure that they are flat.

Do they have the holes for oil fill and pcv?

Without seeing the covers, it's hard to give any more info or opinions.
 
I would be cautious of them. You don't know who made them and how good they are. Are they flat or not? How did they fixture them to make sure that they are flat.

Do they have the holes for oil fill and pcv?

Without seeing the covers, it's hard to give any more info or opinions.

[ame=http://www.ebay.com/itm/Small-Block-Mopar-273-318-340-360-Polished-Aluminum-Valve-Covers-/191093490153?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c7e0f41e9&vxp=mtr]Here is one.[/ame]

There are quite a few that look essentially the same.
 
I'm partial to the old 273 power pak covers too, but if you want a set of cast covers, try an old pair of Cal Custom valve covers - great nostalgic look and the possibilities for custom paint are endless!
 
I like the old Offenhauser ones, they're sweet but hard to find and pricey. I went with my old stand by M/Ts on mine. The 273 Commandos are nice also. They have heatsinks...lol

To each his own but personally I'm so dang tired of the Mopar Performance finned covers. I've never seen a part that was so universally popular, Mopar must make a fortune on those alone.
 
Factory valve covers for me powder coated wrinkle finish satin black. JMO.
 
Here is one.

There are quite a few that look essentially the same.


How does the gasket work with those long bolts on those valve covers?

Maybe I'm just old fashioned, but I just don't care for those style. I guess if you can use high lift rocker arms with out any interference, but I prefer my valve covers with a "lip flange" for the gasket.
 
Mine. Underneath sits a 68 318, 302 heads, Performer, 625 AFB, and a 276/288 .441 Crane Fireball. Call the covers FABO Collabo Specials. M/T provided the base. Leanna did the general rehabilitation and powder coating. GTGrinly did the decals. The design is mine.

View attachment IMG_6522s.JPG
 
How does the gasket work with those long bolts on those valve covers?

Maybe I'm just old fashioned, but I just don't care for those style. I guess if you can use high lift rocker arms with out any interference, but I prefer my valve covers with a "lip flange" for the gasket.

Oh, they are so much fun.
The lack of a lip makes it so much more interesting, well that and the fact that the fabbed covers are flat and 318 heads are not.

You lay one of those fabbed covers on a 318 head and push down on the end of the cover and see what happens.
The other end pops up about 1/4 inch.

It takes some creative RTV work, and not making a mess with it is even more interesting.
Bone dry, and zero visible RTV on the first try though.

It has headers and yellow 8mm Accel wires now.
 

Attachments

  • covers.jpg
    90.6 KB · Views: 694
Oh, they are so much fun.
The lack of a lip makes it so much more interesting, well that and the fact that the fabbed covers are flat and 318 heads are not.

You lay one of those fabbed covers on a 318 head and push down on the end of the cover and see what happens.
The other end pops up about 1/4 inch.

It takes some creative RTV work, and not making a mess with it is even more interesting.
Bone dry, and zero visible RTV on the first try though.

It has headers and yellow 8mm Accel wires now.
They work with the mag/ Type Heads as they have a flat surface otherwise like TrailBeast said it can be testing on the LA Type!
 
My favorite ones would be nice clean stock ones that don't cost 50 or 60 damn dollars.
 
Anything old school, for me. However,I did use the OEM Magnum gaskets,with a dab of grey RTV in the unneeded holes. Holds so far. Holley cast aluminium's,done in HammerKote grey.Traditional fins,no paint.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20140312_142710.jpg
    57.5 KB · Views: 605
First things first: Click those Thanks buttons for Steve, Mike and Karl. You guys are too good to me!! < hugs >

Secondly, you aren't the only one leaning towards custom Mopar Performance valve covers Reverend. :-D Just over the last few months my customers have come up with some amazing color combinations -- here's a few teasers to get your imagination going on your own ride. You didn't mention what your color scheme is / going to be but don't feel limited by what you see here. With over 6,500 powder colors this is just the tip of the iceberg ........

Psycho Yellow over China Mint and Wetstone Black (wrinkle):

View attachment 018 - Copy.jpg

View attachment 024 - Copy.jpg

Sunshine Yellow and Wetstone Black (more pics here):

View attachment 015 - Copy.jpg

View attachment 023 - Copy.jpg

Hemi Orange, Ink Black and Clear Vision (more photos here):

View attachment 039 - Copy.jpg

Hemi Orange and Wetstone Black:

View attachment 021 - Copy.jpg

View attachment 008 - Copy.jpg

And my first ever six-color MP valve covers in Sea Water Teal, Flag Red, Polar White, Manhattan Blue, Silver Glaze and Wetstone Black:

View attachment 042 - Copy.jpg

View attachment 034 - Copy.jpg

Those are just a few of the MPs -- check out my website to see other ideas on Cal Customs, Mickey Thompsons, Holleys and Edelbrocks ... they can all be customized to suit your own taste.
 

Attachments

  • 032 - Copy.jpg
    61.6 KB · Views: 779
-
Back
Top