A chrome engine dress-up kit is a great way to add a custom, eye-catching look to your vehicle’s engine bay. They’re also an excellent way to complement other performance upgrades like a new air intake or bolt-on power adder. But while engine dress-up parts provide an attractive aesthetic, do they have any functional value?

Chrome Valve Covers

Valve covers are one of the most critical engine dress parts because they add style but also help protect vital components from dirt and dust. They also play a role in directing airflow to reduce heat and keep your engine running cooler. These chrome valve covers are an excellent upgrade for any Ford owner. They are fabricated from heavy-gauge steel and triple chrome plated. They feature wing nuts, hold-downs, breather caps, and grommets. They are designed for roller rocker arms but can be used with stock rockers. They are baffled to prevent oil breather blow-by and have embossed Trick Flow logos. They also have a taller stack that helps to direct airflow. The bolt notches are correctly placed to clear your camshaft and fit most aluminum rocker arm sets.

Exhaust Tips

Exhaust tips may seem like a minor component in the grand symphony of automotive engineering, but they play a dual role that impacts both form and function. Not only do they spruce up your engine bay with a custom look, but they also change the tone of the exhaust slightly, depending on their length and shape. Please select from various sizes and shapes to fit your style and ensure it properly suits your car or truck. A larger outlet diameter is better for a more profound sound performance, and double-walled options protect the tip against corrosion. These exhaust tips are relatively easy to install, and you can use WD-40 to lubricate them before tightening them.

Radiator Extensions

Radiators are one of the ugliest parts in the engine bay, so it’s important to dress them up with chrome radiator valve extensions or radiator tail extenders. These extensions are milled from solid brass in various electroplated metal finishes and can bridge gaps when your new radiator doesn’t quite fit between existing pipework. They’re also available in several sizes to give you flexibility when replacing a conventional lockshield or thermostatic valve with a more modern unit. Some can even be telescoping to adjust the size of the extension as required. These parts don’t just add a custom look, but they also help reduce vibrations and heat in the engine compartment. You can use these components with braided water hoses, and chrome coil covers to show off your engine bay for a custom look.

Radiator Shrouds

The efficient functioning of your vehicle’s cooling framework unequivocally depends on airflow through the radiator. However, the radiator isn’t solely responsible for keeping the engine at a manageable temperature. It also relies on fan shrouds to direct the proper airflow over the core. While older chrome engine dress-up parts like taller valve cover to fit over stud girdles had more function than form, modern accessories combine both with a showroom shine that car enthusiasts demand. These include radiator extensions, braided water hoses, and shrouds for your fans. By directing airflow directly over the radiator, this engine bay upgrade prevents hot air recirculation and enhances cooling efficiency.

Braided Water Hoses

Braided hoses are versatile reinforced hoses that can transport liquid and gases from one point to another. They are commonly used in automotive and transportation systems to maintain a steady flow of fluids and gases while providing maximum strength, durability, and safety. The construction of a braided hose starts with extruding synthetic rubber into a tube shape, which is then sheathed in woven textile or steel wire cording. The cording is typically angled to create a crisscross pattern that increases strength and durability. Textile braided hoses are more flexible than spiral wound hoses and can be made with tighter bend radiuses to accommodate various installation locations. Additionally, they can withstand higher tensile stress than other types of hoses.