383 Valve cover question

[Jim S.]

Could someone tell me what the purpose is of the baffles that are spot welded to the inside of the valve covers are for? When I got my RR back in 2002, they had been removed because the rockers were hitting them in a couple of areas. All I have done (other than paint) to the valve covers is to fashion a small aluminum disc to keep oil from splashing up into the oil filler/breather cap. I have the old baffles and thinking maybe they should be spot welded back in and worked so the rockers do not hit them. Are they really important?....Thanks in advance.

 

[mcmopar]

They are baffles to keep the oil from getting to the breather and pcv valve. If you've installed baffles to replace the ones that were removed I'd give them a shot and see if they work ok before trying to put the original baffle back in. The MP cast aluminum covers I have didn't come with baffles either but they had mounting studs so that you could install your own - which I did. I fashioned them from a piece of scrap sheet metal I had laying around. They aren't the full length or width of the valve cover but they work just fine.