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Fri May 25, 2007 2:01 pm

I just got some of the scat s/s valve covers. Which way do the bails go on? when looking at the side of them (where they go into the head) should the design be going ^ or the opposite pointing down? I've been looking at vendors engines on here and i've seen both :? There has to be a correct way........

need pics let me know :)

Fri May 25, 2007 3:30 pm

Believe it or not I've had the same question and I've seen them mounted either way; even on official VW literature!!

Fri May 25, 2007 4:08 pm

If you put them on so that the bales are low with respect to the parts that wrap around to the head's bosses, when you snap them down to pull the cover, the cover will be easier to remove since the bale will be more out of the way.

Fri May 25, 2007 6:22 pm

Tits up on type 1s

down on type 4s

Fri May 25, 2007 6:25 pm

Like this:

Fri May 25, 2007 8:19 pm

I had to re-bend my Scat S.S. bails before assembly, they were WAY too tight.

Fri May 25, 2007 10:42 pm

Ok thanks guys for the pics and info. I kind of thought they would go that way. Thanks again

And yes these do seem to be a very tight fit, but it should seal well, hopefully

Fri Apr 19, 2013 8:44 am

ill resurrect this.. Glenns picture looks like tits are down, michael fischer says tits up. which way?

Fri Apr 19, 2013 8:58 am

VIN wrote: ill resurrect this.. Glenns picture looks like tits are down, michael fischer says tits up. which way?

depends on what part is the "tit" I considered the larger arching section in the middle as a "tit" and then in glenn's pit it is up.. if you consider the smaller pinches on either side of that arch as "tits" then yes, they are down..

Either way, i've always done it the way it is in the Pic..

on a different note.. what line is that resting on the j-pipe? looks small enough to be fuel, probably not the best place for it.. :?

Fri Apr 19, 2013 1:13 pm

tits out on mine, but no bailing.just some nuts&hose over the nipples for breathing.
I thought they were like that to make it easyer to get them off or get it on. I only have 1 type like that and there on the shelf(truhaft aluminimum)

Fri Apr 19, 2013 2:53 pm

I'll always remember the way I was taught about 25 years ago. I was a rookie mechanic at the time, and put one on upside down. My boss held one up in front of me, upside down, and asked "do you know why the curve of it looks like it's smiling?" and I answered "no" and he said "because it's laughing at you because you don't know how to install it".

Ever since then I've always remembered that the bale should make a frown and not a smile.

Fri Apr 19, 2013 2:57 pm

mark tucker wrote: tits out on mine, but no bailing.just some nuts&hose over the nipples for breathing.
I thought they were like that to make it easyer to get them off or get it on. I only have 1 type like that and there on the shelf(truhaft aluminimum)

do you have a pic handy, because I have no idea what you are talking about here.. hose over what nipples? are you talking about a custom race application or stock valve covers?

Fri Apr 19, 2013 3:10 pm

I run bolt on's, with hose nipples&hoses on them.or would that be nut on's?
I thought the bent portion of the bail was so you could get it off easyer prying with a screwdriver.with it upward when pried will already be trying to pull it down and also slide down the screwen driver, if it is already downward your prying mostly outward on the bail.thus the curve is upward. thats my thinken and Im sticken to it .....untill somebody tells me otherwize.
pic's, you so funny I just learned to turn this thing on last week.....or 2 and now you want pics.
no I dont have racing valvecovers.Ive heard of them but havent seen them, I think they hang out at the aluminum racing jack races, witch I havent attended either.

Fri Apr 19, 2013 4:03 pm

I use the stock bails in the opposite position to the photo above. Not sure it really matters, and it's possible VW made them reversible to account for mechanic installation errors (kind of like the centre main bearings being suitable for both sides of the case):

Fri Apr 19, 2013 4:14 pm

looking at both pics, I honestly can't tell you from memory which way mine are now.. to get them off I pry with a screwdriver and I have to do the same to get them back on.. mine fit tightly..

Fri Apr 19, 2013 7:20 pm

Hmmm, well when I see tits, I smile. So that could only mean one thing...
A smiling bale with tits up! :D

Mon Apr 22, 2013 12:41 am

THE CORRECT WAY: the only 2 spots that contact the valve cover will point towards the ground.

Mon Apr 22, 2013 1:12 am

I bet they work both ways. On my 60 I found what are probably old 40 horse ones and put them on upside down, anything else and the back corners hit the body work. Engine is a little wide you know

Mon Apr 22, 2013 2:01 am

Yeah, they will work both ways - but if you install them in the "frown" direction it will be easier to push them back on from under the car, and they can be levered off "backwards" with a large screwdriver. You know that huge one that comes in the set and the only use you've ever seen for it was to hammer it through the oil filter when you can't get it off? Slide it up under the bail, then push towards the middle of the engine.