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SEMA 2011: Billet Specialties Brings Traditional Looks To LS Engines

GM’s LS engine platforms have captured the fancy of many street enthusiasts looking for a dependable and economical solution to power their project cars. With the large amount of LS engines being incorporated into project vehicles, enthusiasts have sought out means of making their masterpieces more unique and in some cases, traditional looking. Billet Specialties [1] has stepped up to the plate by offering these project car builders exciting new ways to accessorize their LS engines.

[2]

Form follows function, but with style.

The SEMA awards committee rewarded Billet Specialties new offerings for LS engine fans by selecting their LS Billet Aluminum Valve Covers as runner up in the the Best New Street Rod/Custom Car Product category.

We talked with Scott Sandoval, Marketing Manager for Billet Specialties, about the company’s new line of billet accessories, including the much talked about LS Billet Aluminum Valve Covers. “Not only do these accessories look good but they function very well,” said Sandoval adding, “our principal behind the design of the LS billet aluminum valve covers was that form follows function, but with style.”

[3]

The LS Coils are hidden under the top cover.

According to Sandoval, “the LS billet aluminum valve covers, which has been the buzz of the booth, were just finalized and shipped from the factory within a week of the show. They are available to consumers now, but they are literally hot off the presses.”

Sandoval also explained that the LS billet valve covers offer car enthusiasts features like taller covers for more clearance but designed for the OE reusable valve cover gasket.

One of the questions that frequently plaque engine and car builders with the LS engine platform is where to mount the LS coils with GM’s coil near plug system. Billet Specialties has taken care of that by providing coil mounting under the top of the valve cover assembly. As a result of the coil mounting, “the engine takes on a more traditional look,” says Sandoval.

Incorporated into the valve cover is a mesh screen that adds a modern look that traditional valve covers could not have built into the design. “It’s purely aesthetic and part of the form follows function but with style principal that we use when designing new products. We tried larger mesh and smaller mesh, eventually settling on the one that you see in our current product,” said Sandoval.

[4]

The new additions to the Billet Specialties line will certainly make it easier, or pose even more difficult choices perhaps, for LS enthusiasts to make their project car a little more customized and unique.