2.3L Ford "Pinto" Custom Finned Valve Cover

Hey Guys,
There were alot of folks who replied to the thread about 2.0 and 2.3L 4 cylinder motors, otherwise I wouldn't post this here. I have a 2.3 in my 27 Modified.

I've designed a finned aluminum valve cover. The design is done in software called Pro/E. I've seen alot of people mention AutoCad. Its like that, except better and more sophisticated for 3D design. (I used to work for the company that makes Pro/E).

I'm requesting quots for casting and rapid prototype now. I want to get a ballpark for what the piece price would be and use the rapid prototype to check for any trouble or to fine tune the design.

I'd like your feedback:
1) What do you think of the design? What would you change?
2) Are you interested in getting one? I would like to auction one for the HAMB when I can.
3) DO you know a foundry or do you have any advice for making the pattern? (master part)

Since the part is "virtual" right now, its fairly easy for me to change it for style.

Thanks to Carb-Otto for the final inspiration to follow thru on this idea. He made a valve cover for his nailhead and it looked AWESOME!

Here's the pic. PM or email with any questions: pikesan99 at hotmail
Pikesan

 

Here's the link to Carb-Otto's part:

http://jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=144695&&showall=1

 

i'd be interested in one, i got a couple of these motors that could use this. its all depending on what the price is gonna be, though. but looks real good to me.

ncg

 

Damn handsome. Is there any place on it for a breather or PCV valve? It would be a shame to put it right on top, but having some capability in that regard would probably be worthwhile.

I am VERY impressed.

 

Thanks AnimalAin!

I haven't put a breather on it yet. I'm not sure which way to go on that, plus I just haven't had time yet. I'll probably just put a hole in the top at a standard size, then you could choose your own breather. This engines NEED it though. Alot of pressure in the engine.

Thanks again,
Pike

 

It looks very similiar to the one I have on my roadster, found it at a swapmeet. I don't know the brand but it was a produced item not a one off.

 

It looks very nice. I would like to see the finnes stop a little shorter. like a half inch back. I would love to have one. You may also want to check in over on Turboford.org for input.

 

I'd want one if it had an oil fill.
Building a *gulp* Baja Bug with a 2.0L Ford........

 

Pretty cool looking. Would love to have had one of those back in my Pinto days, still have my Ford Motorsport valve cover.
I am having trouble remembering where my PCV attached, I don't think it was to the vavle cover.
Gotta have an oil fill spot somewhere though. Maybe just add that to the oil pan.
To get rid of the biggest ugly spot on that motor you need to come up with a cool finned alternator case.

 

how about a breather like this?

 

What ever you come up with it should be located toward the back for hood clearance.

 

Looks good to me, You guys can trust Pikesan, he is straight up. NOW GET BACK TO WORK

 

i want one !!!

 

I agree - don't put a hole through those gorgeous fins - let your buyers figure out where to mount the breather(s) of their choice - I'd run two of these on the side like an old top fueler.

Also, I'll take one when you get 'em cast.

Steve

 

Looks pretty nice.

I wonder if you could make those two tall grooves for wrench clearance on the sides a little shorter instead of going all the way up to the top like that. Like have them go only halfway up the side so that the sides wouldn't look like like they're broken into three separate panels like that.
That might mean having to slope the sidewalls in more though, which would give less clearance for rocker arms and stuff though. Oh well, just a thought.

On some Chevy valve covers, they have little stubs of metal hanging down over the rocker arms to help drip oil where it's needed for better lubrication. Would that be a benefit on a Pinto too?

Neat project. Good luck

 

If I'm following you, the grooves on the side have to be there for an easy casting process (at least from my plastic part design experience). Most of the valve covers I see have these grooves, don' t you think?

As for the dripper... I'll look into that. My dad was a ford mechanic for 25 years and did his fair share of work on this engine. He said to never fire the engine with the cover off or you'll wear your oil. My guess is the drippers wouldn't do much.

Thanks for the input..

 

That's a nice looking breather, and I don't want to mess with the clean design of the fins on top. Thanks for the suggestions... BUT, $50 for the breather!!??? I don't think its that cool. How much would the valve cover be then?

 

I'd be in for one if the price was right.

As for the PCV, mine is located just above the distributer in what I can only guess is some sort of accumilator bolted to the side of the block. Well hidden.

It would be a shame to hack a hole in the top for an oil filler but it would be a nesessary evil. remote style filler necks are equally as ugly and usually leak or rattle themselves loose.

 

Love the design, It's worth $50 bucks not to have an ugly breather on top. I like the side mount Moon style breather. You can buy them for less if it's not a name brand. This should be made.

Depending on the final price there is a good chance I'd buy one just to have it for a planned future project.

 

Just Dug,
This is for a 2.3L engine? I've seen some finned ones for a 2.0 (check Goodguys Top 10 from Scottsdale, the modified has one) but never for a 2.3. Can you post a picture? Is there a brand name on it?

Pike

 

Oh yeah, that triggered my memory, it's not an accumulator, its a filter that is attached to the block, from there a hose which the PCV valve sets in, then if I remember to the air cleaner.

 

Great Looking Part! Sign Me Up For One

 

I'd be interested. Very nice design work!

 

Go check with AzCoupe (Mike) over at FordSix.com. He just went through the entire process of designing a v/c like that for the Ford 200"-250" inline six, and then prototyping and casting. He has some very nice covers for sale now; I think they were ready in time for the SEMA show last year. He could probably point you to the same folks he worked with.

Later,

 

I found this breather. Its not to bad. A little cheaper than the one I posted earlier.

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=CAL%2D196505&N=700+401095+319768+115&autoview=sku

 

It looks good to me. I guess it'd be expensive unless you get fairly large quantities so I'd consider the possible markets. To me this means the turbo 2.3L. The stock valve covers can be a PITA and leak at the gasket and the fill cap, so I recommend an O-ring for the filler cap and a wider (and maybe thicker) flange like Esslinger's has. Would it be possible to combine the fill cap and breather, and make it finned? Also, there's internal baffling or something on the turbo 2.3L valve cover(s), so I'd make sure you have all the functions included. By the way, the EFI valve covers have clearance for the throttle body.

Thanks,
Kurt

 

Kurt,
Thanks for the feedback, I really appreciate it. When I have a little more info on when I could deliver a sample, I'm going to contact Esslinger and Racer Walsh and maybe Race Engineering to see if they'd be interested in carrying this.

As for the flange, I've made it overlap the head mating surface on both sides. I'm not sure I can do more than that to make it seal well. The mating surface is not that thick, so that may be part of the problem. I've had my v/c off a bunch of times to set the lash (solid cam) and it just started leaking, but only a little with a good cork gasket.

I have the v/c from my car off and in my office right now. I can see the internal baffle. I'll remove it to make sure, but it looks like a fairly tight fitting sheetmetal piece blocking direct access to the filler and vent holes. Not so high tech, but I'll need to add some bosses to make it right if I go that way. Most people say to leave it as is and let the buyer choose how to put oil in it. I love the idea of the screw on breather/filler combo with an o-ring.

So far, the turbo guys don't seem to care for it much. I figured that. I do know the efi v/c's have a dip in them. I could do something similar to this one for them, but I don't see the market. Plus, I want one of these!

To lure some of the mini-stock racers, hopefully, I might cast a few out of Magnesium. Lightweight and high tech looking, don't you think?

Thanks again,
Pike

 

I put MOON breathers on mine.

 

That's a sweet setup! Is that a 2.0 or a 2.3? I didn't think you could fit sidedrafts on a 2.3 and run a dist.

You lived in Fremont? My dad used to race a 64 Galaxy called "The Happy Home Wrecker" and a 32 Coupe calle "Lime Rickey" at Baylands. That was the first track I ever went to.

Take it easy,
Pike