Engine covers cut down on noise and also cut down on the high cost associated with making an engine look good underneath by just using a single section of plastic to make it look even nicer to the average car buyer. It's also nice to not have to detail the engine bay constantly but rather just wipe the cover down and call it a day.

 

I've seen pics of LS1s with nice valve covers and relocated coil packs, and I think that they can look very good... as good as any other small block. I'd love to see GM yank the coil packs off the valve covers and use a nice looking valve cover.

The NVH arguements, as valid as they probably are, still don't seem that important to me. GM had no problem keeping the engine bay of thirdgens and LT1s quiet. Build the right exhaust, and the noise won't be heard anyway.

 

Its a musclecar, you wanna hear all the noise! One thing about TPI cars is that you can sometimes hear the injectors ticking at idle, they're pretty loud.

 

And TPI cars have a good looking motor....

 

Exactly what I'd like to see.

 

On a musclecar I wanna hear a nice exhaust noise - I don't wanna hear racket from the motor itself - exhaust noise is an icon of musclecars. Engine noise is an icon of poorly engineered, rough around the edges, motors. I know that's not what it always is - but perception is reality.

 

Are the standards in the automotive industry the same as they were in 1986?

The 5th gen is not just an evolution of the 3rd or 4th gen. We are looking at a virtually completely different car with respect to refinement. The ability to have this increased refinement, along with the snap your neck performance that we yearn, at price comparable to 3rd and 4th gens will make it the best pony/muscle car ever produced.

And if you don't like 'em (if they do appear), take the f'ing things off...

 

Yeah, but then you've got an ugly motor underneath......which was the original point when I started this thread.

 

This topic reminds me of something
05 Mustang's pre production engine, w/ cover.

vs production

pic to big to direct link to.

Also compare CTS-V to GTO
CTS-V



Which one do you prefer?

 

Buy 5th gen, remove cover, relocate coil packs, and add engraved powder coated vlave covers that someone makes locally. No worries. I could give two s**** about NHV.

 

I think the GTO is one of the better compromises betweening covering stuff up and leaving it naked.

 

The production Stang looks best because it looks like an engine compartment with an engine in it.

 

I like the new Stang and GTO's engine bays the best, going by those pics.

 

I'd like to see the 5th gen look something like the GTO, though. If I had to pick.

 

It might be worth mentioning that almost any engine cover can be removed in 5 minutes or less; so if it really bothers you, remove it. Tada; bare engine. Just like you like it.

Far easier than expecting people who DO want an engine cover to custom fabricate one.