Which valve covers to use?

[Eric91Z]

OK, could of valve cover questions:

1) Are the valve covers between the '03 and '04 MM the same other than finish?

2) Are there other motors that use identical valve covers: Mach 1, Aviator, Cobra, etc?

3) If you were going to poweder coat a set of valve covers, which would be the best finish to start with?

I am thinking of having a set of valve covers poweder coated and put on the car along with some Colex coil covers and caps. But I can't have the down time of the car while the valve covers are being powder coated. Any and all input appreciated.

Also, has anyone done red valve covers yet?

[rozkopeeko]

i thought about having mine chromed ????????????????

[Eric91Z]

i thought about having mine chromed ????????????????

Chrome is nice, but can be hard on upkeep and looking pretty in the engine bay - in my opinion. I want the red to offer a little color and match the brake calipers - either the current stock ones that are painted Red or TCE Big Brake Kit with powder coated red calipers.

[SergntMac]

1) Are the valve covers between the '03 and '04 MM the same other than finish?Yes. All '03-'04 4V DOHC valve cover are the same material, and design. The '3 Marauders were powercoated with a black satin finish. Older 4V DOHC valve cover are not forward compatabile.
2) Are there other motors that use identical valve covers: Mach 1, Aviator, Cobra, etc? Yes, all '03-'04 models share the same valve covers, but stay away from older stuff like the 99-01 Cobra and Mark VIII.
3) If you were going to powder coat a set of valve covers, which would be the best finish to start with?I went with gloss black, came out looking real nice, but you can pick almost any color you wish.
I am thinking of having a set of valve covers powder coated and put on the car along with some Colex coil covers and caps. But I can't have the down time of the car while the valve covers are being powder coated. Any and all input appreciated. Also, has anyone done red valve covers yet?Ask around for a set of covers you can refinish in advance and then recycle your old covers to someone else? There were some in circulation a while back, but I haven't seen much said about that trading lately. Yes, red valve covers have been done by a few members, red was the traditional Mercury engine color at one time, so was a satin gold finish.

Also, check out other resources like Ford Racing Products (in '06 catalogue, page 47) and www.KarKraft.com (http://www.KarKraft.com) They offer some prefinished covers at a reasonable price, chrome is available too. BTW, they are also called "cam covers" by Ford Racing.

If gloss black fits your needs, I have a set prefinished. We can work out a trade if your covers are the '03 black crinkle finish. I also have a matching gloss black front timing cover you may be interested in, let me know if I can help?

[jimlam56]

Eric, if you are ready to go now, let me know.
I have a set that has traveled through several members hands, starting with
the "King of Bling" from Plant City :bows:
I am at least a month away from my powdercoat project, which will also include upper and lower intakes and the crossover tube.
PM mw with your address, and I'll find out shipping costs.

[Eric91Z]

Thanks for the input, guys. Jim or Mac, I would be interested, but I am still needing to get a price on the powder coating from the guy that will do them and then he is not the fastest guy in the business, so the turn around will be a little while once I get that ball rolling.

That is part of why I wondered what other cars they would work on. Myabe find a set of stock take-offs from someone that has done the Ford GT blue swap or something and get a set of take-offs, get them to the poder coater and not have to worry much about a time frame.

Would either the '03 or '04 finishes be a better starting point for powder coating or should either be fine?

[TooManyFords]

A local company here in Waterloo did my covers, lower intake and front timing cover all for $125. Beautifull gloss black. They do other colors too and I believe Red is one of them.

John

[AzMarauder]

OK, could of valve cover questions:

1) Are the valve covers between the '03 and '04 MM the same other than finish?

2) Are there other motors that use identical valve covers: Mach 1, Aviator, Cobra, etc?

3) If you were going to poweder coat a set of valve covers, which would be the best finish to start with?

I am thinking of having a set of valve covers poweder coated and put on the car along with some Colex coil covers and caps. But I can't have the down time of the car while the valve covers are being powder coated. Any and all input appreciated.

Also, has anyone done red valve covers yet?

If you can hang on a little bit... I have an extra set of covers that are loaned out at the moment. They are 03 covers but the person I loaned them to powder coated them and I will be getting the plain 04 covers back. I'll offer the 04 covers to you to powder coat and then you replace them with whatever covers you have. That way you don't have the downtime. And by poweder coating the "loaners" and replacing them with yours you only have to do the swap thing once.

I have a set of the Ford GT Blue ones just haven't made the time to get them on the car. Real life has me pretty busy. I've three projects on the board for the MM and just haven't gotten to them yet.

Anyway... if you are interested in the loaner arrangement thing PM or Email me and we can sort it out.

Oh.. and yes several folks have done Red... I think Barry (Cruztaker) had red covers.... IIRC.

[bryanthomas]

Hey guys, just reviving this thread...

I was going to order a set of valve covers from Kar Kraft and then I remembered a thread where some one installed blue valve covers on their Silver MM and had to grind out a small piece for fitment. Am I mistaken? Will all the 32V covers from Kar Kraft bolt right in?

[O's Fan Rich]

There's a square flat part that I rounded off on the inside lower left side of the passenger cover in order to help it go on easier. I wish I'd have taken a picture of it before and after, but did not. It made things a bit easier, kinda like the incision they might do during childbirth..... it helps, but the whole process is rough!

[Hotrauder]

Bryanthomas, do a search-Defyant posted the pics and the instructions for Cam Cover install this past spring. The pics are in his photo gallery I believe. I followed and copied to the letter. They look great. Browsing thru the member galleries will give you ideas for other colors. In particular check out that wild and crazy guy... Rich Long.:D Dennis

[bryanthomas]

that wild and crazy guy... Rich Long.:D Dennis

LOL, nice SNL reference.

As far as colors go, I considered the blue ones, but I may just go with the black krinkle finish instead with the finned plug covers that say "4.6 32V." I like the more traditional look of that combo. Thanks for the help guys!

[O's Fan Rich]

You did see mine... right?
Cost me $250.00 to get Dennis's fingerprints off them!!

[O's Fan Rich]

Oh, here they are installed...

[Eric91Z]

That does look good. I am planning on a red powder coat to match the brake calipers and WHEN I finally get a Trilogy, I am thinking polished upper and I already have a silver JLT intake tube that matches the body color.

[rumble]

i thought about having mine chromed ????????????????here ya go.................


http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/showimage.php?i=2738&catid=searchresults&searchid=774

[MISTERgadget]

All ford 4v Valve covers are interchangeable except for the Ford GT valvecovers. Obviously, you don't want to use the older cobra and mark 8 covers that used spark plug wires instead of COP.

[Eric91Z]

All ford 4v Valve covers are interchangeable except for the Ford GT valvecovers. Obviously, you don't want to use the older cobra and mark 8 covers that used spark plug wires instead of COP.


Why not the GT valve covers. I thought a number of people on here actually put the GT valve covers on their MM?

[SergntMac]

All ford 4v Valve covers are interchangeable except for the Ford GT valvecovers. Obviously, you don't want to use the older cobra and mark 8 covers that used spark plug wires instead of COP.Eric...Unless you want to learn the hard way, keep your trading inside the '03-'04 Marauder - Mach I - Aviator family. Then you won't have to fuss with correcting the differences in the PCV systems.

[merc6]

Oh, here they are installed..."Oh Yeah!"

[Eric91Z]

Eric...Unless you want to learn the hard way, keep your trading inside the '03-'04 Marauder - Mach I - Aviator family. Then you won't have to fuss with correcting the differences in the PCV systems.

Will do. Thanks for the advice. Hopefully the set I am in line for is one of those. I think they were from an '03 MM.