Hi all, I am working to bring my Monte back up to speed in the looks department. I have an oil leak so I figure why not replace the valve covers while replacing the gaskets with shiny chrome? I am finding it difficult to find ones that specifically fit this model. Can anyone help? I am still looking,
Thank you,
Marcus

 

Have you tried carid? The link is at the top of the page.

 

ZZPerformance offers aluminum covers. Or if you get the valve covers off 4th gen 3800 powered Camaro/Firebird, those are made of aluminum, get them, clean them, polish them. I got a set on my Monte (I did not do the work, I just got the benefits of someone abandoning their project).

 

You know, I am looking at a lot of very nice looking Monties here and on all the underhood shots I have seen because of the 3800 Series II Cover you are not even able to see the valve covers.

So then the question is, is it even worth it to spend $200.00 on something you can't really see? Please advise,
thank you. By the way that transparent hood is amazing!

 

Perhaps the photo's of engine bays don't show the valve covers so very well. Look at yours in person and you will see how much it really is visible when people are standing there looking at it. Plus on mine since we went to 150# springs, the metal valve covers had to be cut open and widened to allow for spring clearance issues. Could not do that with the composite ones for sure. So guess it's looks and sometimes performance too.

 

I ditched the use of the cover long ago. Reasons (in order as they came up):
1 - Holds in heat.
2 - As you mentioned, hides my valve covers.
3 - I switched to the aluminum L26 upper intake Spring of 2014, don't know if the cover would fit, don't care, that baby is to nice to hide. Matter of fact, I removed the bracket on the back of the engine that helps hold the cover (no need, I zip-tied the O2 wire out of the way, that was the only other thing that bracket was good for).

Again, I'd consider the F-body 3800 aluminum valve cover route.

Below is a pic of my engine compartment when I was finishing the L26 UIM swap.

 

Ok, now I am again reconsidering the valve cover option,

I thank everyone for your responses!

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2001 MCSS View Post
You know, I am looking at a lot of very nice looking Monties here and on all the underhood shots I have seen because of the 3800 Series II Cover you are not even able to see the valve covers.

So then the question is, is it even worth it to spend $200.00 on something you can't really see? Please advise,
thank you. By the way that transparent hood is amazing!
I ditched the use of the cover long ago. Reasons (in order as they came up):
1 - Holds in heat.
2 - As you mentioned, hides my valve covers.
3 - I switched to the aluminum L26 upper intake Spring of 2014, don't know if the cover would fit, don't care, that baby is to nice to hide. Matter of fact, I removed the bracket on the back of the engine that helps hold the cover (no need, I zip-tied the O2 wire out of the way, that was the only other thing that bracket was good for).

Again, I'd consider the F-body 3800 aluminum valve cover route.

Below is a pic of my engine compartment when I was finishing the L26 UIM swap.

 

No prob on the response. I just noticed you comment about the transparent hood. That photoshop trick was all thanks to Mike (ChibiBlacksheep) the other admin here. He did this for me after last year's GM Nationals

 

I seen somewhere that a company was producing "clear valve covers" they looked neat but I only seen them on chevy big blocks,im sure they could custom make one,i have no idea on the price tho

 

That would be a really cool(expensive) airbrush job.