Project 3: Retro Fuel Rail Covers
Applicable Years: C5
Skill level: 1 Wrench
Tools required: none
Time required: 15 minutes
Parts source: Advanced Automotive Technologies
If you have a C5 and you'd like to get a little of that "retro look" under the hood to remind onlookers of your Corvette's 50-plus-year heritage, then these fuel rail covers from Advanced Automotive Technologies are your ticket. Made of the same composite material as the stock factory covers, these units are molded and painted to be reminiscent of the old finned valve covers from the '50s and '60s. Installation is a snap-literally-since no tools are needed and in well under a half-hour you can give your modern-era C5 a real nostalgic, classic look.
Here's the engine bay with...
Here's the engine bay with the stock fuel rail covers in place. The first thing to do is to remove the oil filler cap.
The covers are held in place...
The covers are held in place by clips, so to remove them you simply pull up on the upper side of the cover first, then pull up on the bottom to unsnap the clips and remove the covers. The driver side is a little more tricky because of the braided hoses going through the cover.
Here's what the passenger...
Here's what the passenger side looks like with the cover removed.
The retro covers install just...
The retro covers install just the way the stock covers, by snapping in place. Snap the bottoms in first, then the tops. Be careful on the driver side so the braided hoses don't scratch the paint on the retro cover.
Here's the completed vintage...
Here's the completed vintage look on the passenger side-now on to the driver side and the job is complete!