GT500 Valve Cover Install

[galaxy]

Soooo, I'm the worlds worst for remembering to take good pics and I'll never be the one to do a good step by step write up. Ooohh weeellll. But I did want to start a thread and pass along a couple of lessons learned if you guys go down this path. Still an awesome mod, and I'm very happy with the results. The end result was worth the wrench turning effort, most certainly.

> This was mentioned in another thread somewhere, but, remove the battery box and battery firewall. It makes the right side a piece of cake.

> The absolute worst part of the entire job is removing the wire harnesses from those clip-snap-in-place-thingies. It just sucks and I have no advice on how to deal with them. They just suck.

> The hands down worst part of the job was the wire harness snap-in-place-thingies on the very rear of the left side valve cover. Ugghh. If my car starts tomorrow and doesn't have a broken/damaged wire in that harness, it'll be a miracle. Again, no advice; good luck.

> Other than that, pretty easy, wrench turning, straigh forward job.

> My own fault...but I did not remove the oil dipstick tube before fighting with the wire harness on the rear side of the left valve cover. I ended up breaking the tube off of the cam-lock head piece. Bummer. $12 replacement tube is OTW. Rembember to remove the tube from the top side before you start yanking and banking on that left valve cover.

> Your @pilotgore 350 funnel does not fit the 500 valve cover. One quick text to Jon and he had the correct oil funnel OTW! He already has a 500 valve cover funnel design ready to go. Just remember if you have these, don't order a 350 funnel, get the 500 funnel. Can't beat the customer service. And if you don't already have a @pilotgore funnel anyways, well then, I just don't know what to tell ya! Get with the program.

> Other than that, these things are pretty bad ass. And the wrench time with my daughter was more than worth it. The covers were a Christmas gift from my son, but at ~$250, still totally worth it, IMO.

> They are heavier than the stock plastic covers, but not by much. And I do mean not by much. Holding them hand in hand, you reealllyyy gotta think about it to notice any weight difference. And really, who gives a f$%#??

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[2morrow]

Awesome! Love the garage too. Last pic is cool. I’m assuming the gift giver?

Hit me up next time you go to T-hill. I’ll be at Willow March or April. I also live by Sonoma if you make it out.

 

[pilotgore]

Soooo, I'm the worlds worst for remembering to take good pics and I'll never be the one to do a good step by step write up. Ooohh weeellll. But I did want to start a thread and pass along a couple of lessons learned if you guys go down this path. Still an awesome mod, and I'm very happy with the results. The end result was worth the wrench turning effort, most certainly.

> This was mentioned in another thread somewhere, but, remove the battery box and battery firewall. It makes the right side a piece of cake.

> The absolute worst part of the entire job is removing the wire harnesses from those clip-snap-in-place-thingies. It just sucks and I have no advice on how to deal with them. They just suck.

> The hands down worst part of the job was the wire harness snap-in-place-thingies on the very rear of the left side valve cover. Ugghh. If my car starts tomorrow and doesn't have a broken/damaged wire in that harness, it'll be a miracle. Again, no advice; good luck.

> Other than that, pretty easy, wrench turning, straigh forward job.

> My own fault...but I did not remove the oil dipstick tube before fighting with the wire harness on the rear side of the left valve cover. I ended up breaking the tube off of the cam-lock head piece. Bummer. $12 replacement tube is OTW. Rembember to remove the tube from the top side before you start yanking and banking on that left valve cover.

> Your @pilotgore 350 valve cover does not fit the 500 valve cover. One quick text to Jon and he had the correct oil funnel OTW! He already has a 500 valve cover funnel design ready to go. Just remember if you have these, don't order a 350 funnel, get the 500 funnel. Can't beat the customer service. And if you don't already have a @pilotgore funnel anyways, well then, I just don't know what to tell ya! Get with the program.

> Other than that, these things are pretty bad ass. And the wrench time with my daughter was more than worth it. The covers were a Christmas gift from my son, but at ~$250, still totally worth it, IMO.

> They are heavier than the stock plastic covers, but not by much. And I do mean not by much. Holding them hand in hand, you reealllyyy gotta think about it to notice any weight difference. And really, who gives a f$%#??

Thanks for the advice to others as well as the shout out! Glad you were able to complete the job with your apprentice!

 

[Prodigal]

Looks great.
wish they would fit the Mach1 but heard they don’t. Also wish pilotgore made the funnel and drain for the M1 but last time I checked that was still on hold.

 

[SL8888]

Soooo, I'm the worlds worst for remembering to take good pics and I'll never be the one to do a good step by step write up. Ooohh weeellll. But I did want to start a thread and pass along a couple of lessons learned if you guys go down this path. Still an awesome mod, and I'm very happy with the results. The end result was worth the wrench turning effort, most certainly.

> This was mentioned in another thread somewhere, but, remove the battery box and battery firewall. It makes the right side a piece of cake.

> The absolute worst part of the entire job is removing the wire harnesses from those clip-snap-in-place-thingies. It just sucks and I have no advice on how to deal with them. They just suck.

> The hands down worst part of the job was the wire harness snap-in-place-thingies on the very rear of the left side valve cover. Ugghh. If my car starts tomorrow and doesn't have a broken/damaged wire in that harness, it'll be a miracle. Again, no advice; good luck.

> Other than that, pretty easy, wrench turning, straigh forward job.

> My own fault...but I did not remove the oil dipstick tube before fighting with the wire harness on the rear side of the left valve cover. I ended up breaking the tube off of the cam-lock head piece. Bummer. $12 replacement tube is OTW. Rembember to remove the tube from the top side before you start yanking and banking on that left valve cover.

> Your @pilotgore 350 funnel does not fit the 500 valve cover. One quick text to Jon and he had the correct oil funnel OTW! He already has a 500 valve cover funnel design ready to go. Just remember if you have these, don't order a 350 funnel, get the 500 funnel. Can't beat the customer service. And if you don't already have a @pilotgore funnel anyways, well then, I just don't know what to tell ya! Get with the program.

> Other than that, these things are pretty bad ass. And the wrench time with my daughter was more than worth it. The covers were a Christmas gift from my son, but at ~$250, still totally worth it, IMO.

> They are heavier than the stock plastic covers, but not by much. And I do mean not by much. Holding them hand in hand, you reealllyyy gotta think about it to notice any weight difference. And really, who gives a f$%#??

Looks great for sure, but I'm thinking that I know who did the "Heavy Lifting" on this install...
and judging from the dirt & grease on some ones arms & shirt, there looks to be more than one area that that might need a little better detailing job my man. LOL.
Dynamite job and I'm sure that you helped a bunch. Using your words " > Other than that, pretty easy, wrench turning, straight forward job." You are blessed with your family ! Looking forward to seeing your next project.
Happy New Year, my GT-350 brother.
BTW, I got something for my Shelby to install from my Beautiful Bride for Christmas. And now I'm inspired to install them all by myself... Wish me Luck !

 

[pilotgore]

Looks great.
wish they would fit the Mach1 but heard they don’t. Also wish pilotgore made the funnel and drain for the M1 but last time I checked that was still on hold.

Filler funnel, yes. Oil filter guide, not yet. We made some progress this fall when another member graciously loaned his car for a week….. but alas the solution we came up with wasn’t perfect and I refuse to ship anything that isn’t perfect. Sorry… I wish the design of the oil filter housing was more conducive to an easy solution like the gt350/gt500.

 

[dcalero]

Thank you for posting this. I want to change my valve covers as well.

 

[galaxy]

Finally got my oil dipstick tube in today. So, funny story, and the reason I broke it in the first place…it was completely lost on me that the tube is inside the valve cover and just goes down through a hole in the head and on into the oil pan. This whole time I was envisioning the old school tube that is outside the engine, and literally goes through the oil pan, lol. Nerd! Hahaha.

But anywho…tube slides right in. You do need a 14mm Allen to turn that cam-lock into place. I had one, and for the life of me don’t remember what it was for. But made the install a snap.

 

[CowboyJohn]

I may do this swap on my Sons 2015 while he is over seas. One question i have for the OP or anyone else that has done this swap are the stock PCV fittings plug and play in the new covers?

I'm gonna try new gaskets and the bolts omitted by Ford first, but if the original covers look warped or still leak, this is probably the route I will go. Am I correct in that I will also need to get the dipstick tube for the GT 350?

His is a GT Premium.

 

[Paul McWhiskey]

I may do this swap on my Sons 2015 while he is over seas. One question i have for the OP or anyone else that has done this swap are the stock PCV fittings plug and play in the new covers?

I'm gonna try new gaskets and the bolts omitted by Ford first, but if the original covers look warped or still leak, this is probably the route I will go. Am I correct in that I will also need to get the dipstick tube for the GT 350?

His is a GT Premium.

You would have to drill out the cam covers to install all of the bolts. That would probably alleviate the cam cover leaking if done properly.

Another reason for replacing with the GT500 covers is that they are baffled better to reduce the sucking of engine oil into the intake manifold during long high speed left hand turns. And some even claim that they offer additional cooling? I cannot speak to that.

I installed mine with the OE dipstick tube and did not have any change in the oil level.

 

[CowboyJohn]

Thanks for the reply.

Were these fittings plug and play.

From the images I have seen online, it looks like the aluminum ones might have threaded openings.

 

[Paul McWhiskey]

IIRC I just took the fittings off of the original cam covers and installed them into the new ones. I installed and torqued the cam cover bolts that came with the kit that I purchased from Levittown Ford. DM Benny for more detail if you like.

In answer to your question, no, the aluminum covers are not threaded.

 

[galaxy]

Yes, all the fittings are plug and play. Everything is a direct swap except for the oil fill cap. You will need the GT500 cap. But it comes with the valve covers if you buy new.

 

[CowboyJohn]

Okay since you replied to me earlier, I have an issue.

Did your drivers side cover have this hole?

I think it is for an oil catch can. I need to find a plug for it as my plastic stock covers didn't have this.

TIA

 

[galaxy]

Okay since you replied to me earlier, I have an issue.

Did your drivers side cover have this hole?

I think it is for an oil catch can. I need to find a plug for it as my plastic stock covers didn't have this.

Shit, I don’t remember. Not at home to go look. If no one says anything by Sunday, I’ll go out and pop a coil cover off and see. But obviously I haven’t been successfully running around with a hole in my crankcase for the past year, so totally not sure. Will check. Interesting.

Judging by the photo, this is the front of the left cover?! Has to be.

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