Picking out a set of ford motorsports valve covers is one of those small changes that makes a massive difference the second you open your hood. It's funny how a simple piece of cast aluminum can take an engine bay from looking like a neglected work truck to a high-end street machine, but that's exactly what happens. If you've got a Small Block Ford sitting between your fenders, you know that the stock stamped steel covers are well, they're pretty boring. They're prone to leaking, they rust, and they just don't have any soul.
I've spent plenty of Saturday mornings hunched over a radiator support, and I can tell you that swapping out your covers is probably the most rewarding "one-beer" job you can do. It's not just about the bling, though that's a big part of it. It's about that classic look that says you actually care about what's under the hood.
Why the Look Matters
Let's be real for a second: we all want our cars to look fast even when the engine is off. When you go with ford motorsports valve covers, you're tapping into a legacy. These things have been around in various forms for decades, and for a good reason. Whether they say "Ford Racing," "Cobra," or just have those iconic cooling fins, they're a staple of the Mustang and F-series world.
There's something about that polished aluminum or the crinkle-black finish that just screams "muscle." If you're running a period-correct build, maybe on an old '65 Fastback or a Fox Body, the satin or polished versions are usually the way to go. If you're doing something a bit more modern or sinister, the blacked-out versions look incredible against a silver or red block. It's all about personal taste, but you really can't go wrong with any of them.
Clearing Your Valvetrain
One thing people often forget when shopping for ford motorsports valve covers is clearance. If you're just running a stock cam and factory rockers, you can pretty much pick whatever you like. But the moment you start talking about high-lift cams and fancy roller rockers, things get a bit tight.
Tall vs. Short Covers
You'll see a lot of these covers sold in "tall" versions. There's a reason for that. Stock rockers don't take up much room, but those big, beefy aluminum roller rockers need space to breathe. If you try to cram a set of stock-height covers over a high-performance valvetrain, you're going to hear a rhythmic clack-clack-clack the first time you turn the key—and that's a sound nobody wants.
I always tell people: if you think you might upgrade your heads or rockers down the road, just get the tall covers now. It saves you from buying the same part twice. Just keep in mind that on some EFI (electronic fuel injection) cars, tall covers might run into your intake manifold. It's a bit of a balancing act, but usually, a spacer under the upper intake plenum solves that problem pretty easily.
Internal Baffles
Another thing to look for is the baffle. Good ford motorsports valve covers come with internal baffles under the PCV and breather holes. Why does this matter? Well, if you don't have a baffle, your engine is going to suck oil straight out of the valvetrain and into your intake. That leads to smoke, fouled plugs, and a generally grumpy engine. Most of the genuine Ford-branded stuff has decent baffling, but it's always worth a quick look before you bolt them down.
Choosing Your Finish
This is where the tough decisions happen. You've basically got three main camps when it comes to the finish on your ford motorsports valve covers:
- Polished Aluminum: These are the showstoppers. They're shiny, they reflect everything, and they make the engine bay pop. The downside? You've got to keep them clean. Fingerprints and oil spots show up instantly.
- Satin or Brushed: This is a great middle ground. It looks high-end but doesn't require a microfiber cloth every time you touch it. It's a bit more "race-inspired" than "show-car inspired."
- Black Crinkle/Powder Coat: This is my personal favorite. It hides dirt well, handles heat like a champ, and has a very serious, functional look to it. Plus, it's durable. You aren't going to scratch it the first time a wrench slips.
Dealing with the Gaskets
I can't talk about valve covers without talking about the absolute headache that is oil leaks. We've all been there—you put on a beautiful set of ford motorsports valve covers, take a drive, and five minutes later you smell burning oil because it's dripping onto your headers.
Don't cheap out on the gaskets. Those old-school cork gaskets are okay for a lawnmower, but for a V8 you care about, go with the steel-core rubber gaskets. They're reusable, they don't crush into a million pieces, and they actually seal. Also, don't over-torque the bolts! I know it's tempting to crank them down to make sure they're tight, but that just warps the cover and causes more leaks. Snug them down evenly in a criss-cross pattern, and you'll be much happier in the long run.
Where to Find Them
Finding a set of ford motorsports valve covers isn't too hard, but you have options. You can buy them brand new from most performance shops, and they'll come with all the right hardware and look perfect out of the box.
However, if you're like me and enjoy the hunt, you can often find vintage sets at swap meets or on online marketplaces. There's something cool about finding a set of "Ford Motorsport" (singular, the old branding) covers that have a bit of patina on them. A little bit of elbow grease and some aluminum polish can bring an old set back to life, and it gives your car a bit of "old school" street cred that you just can't buy off a shelf.
Final Thoughts on the Swap
At the end of the day, installing ford motorsports valve covers is about pride of ownership. It's one of the easiest ways to personalize your Ford. It's the difference between an engine that looks like it just came out of a junkyard and one that looks like it belongs at a Saturday night cruise-in.
It's a simple Saturday afternoon project. You get to spend some time in the garage, maybe listen to some music, and when you're done, you get that instant gratification of a clean engine bay. Just make sure you get the right height for your rockers, grab some quality gaskets, and don't forget to take a picture when you're finished. There's nothing quite like that first time you pop the hood after the swap and see those fins catching the light. It makes all the scraped knuckles and oil stains on the driveway totally worth it.