Insulated valve covers for quieter engine????

[mike mueller]

Not to be discriminatory, but I'd like to calm down the VW sound of my engine. Since it seems most of the noise is due to the solid lifters and that I don't want to go to hydraulics what are my alternatives???
The stock valve covers seem like they just amplify the clickity-clack the engine makes.
Has anyone found a high temp insulator to cover the valve cover with???


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Mike Mueller
Antioch, CA
1970 1.8
http://www.pelicanparts.com/MotorCity/mmueller/personal.html

[John Rogers]

Years ago I used some cast aluminum valve covers that really quieted down the valve noise on my 1973 VW bus with a type IV engine. They came with a new wire bale and I don't know if they are still made or not? I imagine you could make a "cap" from welding cloth to fit over the whole valve cover and use lock wire to hold it on. Good luck.

[TFI]

maybe some high temerature dynamat? like what they use on firewalls.

[paulhagedorn]

funny, i was just thinking the same thing...what would quiet down the valve noise. i was thinking are there any different lifters that would make less noise...someone out there has to know of a way without going hydraulic

Paul

[Alpine]

If you go to http://www.vwcalimports.com and type in the part# C18-1697 you will find some aftermarket valve covers for the 914.

In the 1999 Cal Imports printed catalog I have, they are described in as:

914 Valve Covers:

"Now available to fit 914 and Type 4 engines. Completes (sic) with famous 'C' channel gaskets and polished deep finned aluminum castings. Bolts firmly in position. Old style spring snaps are not used. The 'C' channel gaskets help keep your engines (sic) critical oil supply inside where it belongs. 914 Valve Covers add a new dimension in appearance and utility. The thicker walls of the Castings help to reduce rocker arm noise and reduce engine heat. All hardware and 'C' channel gaskets are suppled (sic) with each set of Valve Covers. Fit all 914 and Type 4 VW engines. Easy to install, just bolt 'em on".

A set of two valve covers is listed at CDN $156.18 per kit.

Alpine

[This message has been edited by Alpine (edited 04-20-2000).]

[turbo6bar]

FAT Performance has the thick aluminum valve covers for $65/pr, I believe. They are very cheaply made cast pieces, with casting so bad you thought they were made in the 1700s, but they are thick and cheap. They bolt onto your rocker studs, so you don't have to fool with those darn knucklebuster springs.

[Bleyseng]

Forget the valve covers to kill the noise, go get some early rockers and some 8mm swivel feet. This really works to get rid of the noise! Plus you won't ever mushroom your valve stems. Another trick is to get the solid shims from the later bus motors, so you can throw away those rocker arm shaft springs, then the rockers won't ever have a chance to slip off a valve. I think it cost me less than $50 in parts to change everthing over.

[dave914]

The valve covers help remove heat. Insulation will slow heat transfer.

Alum covers will be ok, alum is good heat conduction, cooling fins are a bonus.

Swivel feet rockers will help, put them in mine. very nice.

Hydrolic lifters are super quite, friend has one in his, I keep thinking the car stalled at idle, Nop it was just that quite
(I am of course use to a noisy old car, Bugs, 914's and ghias)

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[Dave Bell]

Not that I need a new project, but what is involved in putting hydraulic lifters on our Type-4 914 engines? Cost?

... just curious

- Dave

[AlexO]

What are these swivel feet rockers? Is it something like a roler setup?

[JP Noonan]

Swivel feet look and work like the wobbly end of a "C" clamp. The force from the rocker is more evenly distributed on the valve stem to reduce wear. I think it also has less side loading on the valve so the guides last longer. They are sometimes called "elephant's feet." Get the picture?


To put hydralic lifters in the car I beleive replaceing the cam is manditory. I think the profile of a hydralic cam is completely different from a solid cam. Even if it isn't putting in new lifters with an old cam only works if you know for sure who made the cam. The cam and lifters are carefully made so they wear out together. The hardness of the metal is manipulated usally the cam is slightly harder than the lifter, because lifters are easier to replace. Different manufactures use different hardnesses, so mixing them isn't a good idea.

So you need the cam $100-$150, lifters $150-$200, hydralic pushrods (shorter than solids) used from a bus or $100+, the solid spacers that were mentioned above used or new from a dealer ???$, labor to split the case and install the cam.

I wouldn't think it's worth the trouble unless the motor is already being rebuilt.

[Bleyseng]

As to the use of hydraulic lifters, from previous posts, I thought it took off some of the rev's and hp at the high end. But it does give you a quiet engine and a great idle, in other words, a great plain street motor. If you are looking for more hp and rev's it's not the way to go.

[turbo2.0]

I found an advertisement for the aluminum bolt on valve covers from European Motorworks in Hawthorne, Ca. (800) 722-8678
Hand polished to a bright finish bolt on valve covers-$59.95
It doesn't say if that is for a pair, although that is what is implied. They also claim "no leaks". The polished part is nice, if they are sitting on your bench. On the motor it doesn't make much difference cause they are out of sight. I can just imagine saying "Hey, honey. Lay on the ground here so you can look under my car and check out my shiny valve covers".

[JP Noonan]

Actually polished covers will probably make the engine run a tad hotter then stock covers. Flat black is the best color for the pushrod tubes, cylinder fins and the valve covers.

I think Tom Wilson mentions that in Scandinavia the Bettles had polished pushrod tubes and valve covers to help keep the motors at operating temp.


Whoops: Bob Hoover said that chomed pushrod tubes and valve covers raise the engine temp from between 10 to 30 degrees!

[This message has been edited by JP Noonan (edited 05-02-2000).]