Missing Engine Cover?

[Charles 236]

Good riddance! If my Gladiator had come with an engine cover, it would have been gone shortly after signing the papers. The cover used on earlier Gladiator 3.6 engines wasn't big enough to cover much, and I it couldn't have contributed to a quieter engine. It was only there so Jeep would have a place to put "3.6 V6" on under the hood.

I have never liked engine covers. On my first Challenger I wasted no time getting rid of it. My second Challenger didn't have an engine cover.

As for the idea of transparent valve covers, I wish someone would make them. It would be great to be able to see the valvetrain in action.

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[ShadowsPapa]

As for the idea of transparent valve covers, I wish someone would make them. It would be great to be able to see the valvetrain in action.

I'd be in for a pair.

 

[Charles 236]

Alright, we have at least two sets sold now. Just need someone to start production. Once people see how cool the VVL valvetrain is in action, everyone will want a set.

Several years ago, I had to replace a Pentastar in a Wrangler. The valve cover was off on one side, but I didn't bother putting it on before starting it up to drive around the shop to my bay. It was cool seeing that DOHC valvetrain in action. The only thing missing was the oil spray. Turned out that the tech who took the valve cover off also pulled the oil pan. That Pentastar still ran for a quarter of a mile, and the guy who pulled it apart followed me around the shop to tell me that it had no oil. I told him that I didn't care, it was getting a new engine and I didn't want us to have to push it. Tough engine.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Alright, we have at least two sets sold now. Just need someone to start production. Once people see how cool the VVL valvetrain is in action, everyone will want a set.

Several years ago, I had to replace a Pentastar in a Wrangler. The valve cover was off on one side, but I didn't bother putting it on before starting it up to drive around the shop to my bay. It was cool seeing that DOHC valvetrain in action. The only thing missing was the oil spray. Turned out that the tech who took the valve cover off also pulled the oil pan. That Pentastar still ran for a quarter of a mile, and the guy who pulled it apart followed me around the shop to tell me that it had no oil. I told him that I didn't care, it was getting a new engine and I didn't want us to have to push it. Tough engine.

Years ago - first job in a shop was a former Rambler dealership shop in the 70s. So most of our customers were owners of AMC/Rambler products, many of them older and lower income.
A couple in their 60s came in with their Rambler American with I6. They had driven back to Iowa from a trip to California. Somewhere in Nebraska, the engine made sort of a funny sound, a bit of a jerk and it just didn't seem to have the same power it used to.
I was given the job of diagnosing the problem - definitely wasn't "running on all 6". As I was doing the typical pull each plug wire one at a time and watch the RPM drop thing, I notices a funny bulge in the block and a trickle of oil down the side. Not a lot - but it was noticeable.
It had thrown a rod - and they continued to drive it across the rest of Nebraska and more than half-way through Iowa to us.
They gave us the car, unable to afford repairs. Boss drove it into the corner of the shop one day and said let's have some fun.
Started it, put a block on the throttle and we stood back waiting for it to blow.
After a couple of minutes, he got bored and shut it down.

 

[Charles 236]

Years ago - first job in a shop was a former Rambler dealership shop in the 70s. So most of our customers were owners of AMC/Rambler products, many of them older and lower income.
A couple in their 60s came in with their Rambler American with I6. They had driven back to Iowa from a trip to California. Somewhere in Nebraska, the engine made sort of a funny sound, a bit of a jerk and it just didn't seem to have the same power it used to.
I was given the job of diagnosing the problem - definitely wasn't "running on all 6". As I was doing the typical pull each plug wire one at a time and watch the RPM drop thing, I notices a funny bulge in the block and a trickle of oil down the side. Not a lot - but it was noticeable.
It had thrown a rod - and they continued to drive it across the rest of Nebraska and more than half-way through Iowa to us.
They gave us the car, unable to afford repairs. Boss drove it into the corner of the shop one day and said let's have some fun.
Started it, put a block on the throttle and we stood back waiting for it to blow.
After a couple of minutes, he got bored and shut it down.

Fun. It is amazing how much abuse some engines can take. I tried to kill a Slant Six around forty years ago. It wouldn't die. Had a coworker who could blow Slant Sixes to pieces, rods through the block and bent almost into pretzels. I guess downshifts from third to first at nearly 100 mph, but he never told me.

 

[Cburd61]

Hasn't been standard since somewhere in the 21 model year, I believe.

It's a good place to set your breakfast to keep it warm, that's about it.

I really love the look of engine parts - intake manifolds, working linkage, mechanical stuff. I'd even love it if they had transparent valve covers - I'd be all over that!

How about a Gladiator version of Hemi Under Glass, with a real life Visible V8?

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