While reading through the new car features post, i saw someone mention a two piece valve cover for easier adjustment of valves. I've been wondering about doing this for a LONG time, and for those that use solid lifter cams, this would be bliss.

So heres my idea. Take a normal flat topped valve cover and cut about a 1inch wide strip right down the length of it.

Crimp the edges of the hole in the valve cover so that it forms a sort of "shelf".

Measure and cut a new strip to be placed in/onto the shelf.

Use some magnetic strip tape to border the outside of the new strip.

Install some sort of handle on the strip, and your done. The magnet will hold the two pieces together and act as a seal at the same time. Plus tiny particles of metal floating in your oil would autmatically be filtered out when the oil shoots out of the pushrod/rocker and onto the valve cover.

The only part of this i see that might be a problem would be the magnet sealing the two pieces and not leaking oil everywhere. i would imagine that as long as the magnet is strong enough it would seal...

well, thoughts? Am i an idiot for concieving such a thing, or does it already exist and i'm just way behind on product availability?

Eric

Two piece valve covers are not new, they have been around for decades. As far as using magnet strips to hold the top down, in theroy it sounds good but you are overlooking one thing, vibration. You'll need some kind of mechanical retainer to keep the top from sliding off of the bottom while the engine is running and vibrating.

And magnets tend to lose power as they are heated, so the constant baking of the "refridgerator seal" might take it's toll as well.

Keep developing the idea. You'll come up with something that answers all concerns.

If a 2-piece cover is held on by more than 4 bolts, I really fail to see how it's easier than a 1 piece.

i think your referring to my idea, i know they're available but prices are way too high, i'd cut the top of and use rubber gasket material to make my own reusable gaskets for it. And the point is that when you adjust your valves while the engine is running, you don't get oil all over everything, not ease of accessibility...

How about the section where it is center bolted comes off and the rest of the valve cover stays on. With a rubber seal between the two.

Sounds like just another thing to leak, but just an idea to throw out there.