Reinforced exhaust valves Chrysler Dodge 2.0 16V ECB ECC ECH

Chrysler and Dodge engines covered

A 2 litre 16-valve four-cylinder petrol engine, the Chrysler group 2.0 16V was built from 131 to 160 hp under the codes ECB, ECC, ECH, 420H, 420T and A588. From 1994 to 2010 it powered the Chrysler Neon and Neon II, Cirrus, Stratus, Sebring and PT Cruiser, and the Dodge Neon, Neon Coupé and Neon II.

It has 8 exhaust valves, two per cylinder. The FERREA valve offered here keeps the standard size: 30.5 mm head, 5.9 mm stem, 109.8 mm length, tulip-shaped head. Designed for road use, the production valve is the first to suffer when tuning raises the load, the revs or the exhaust gas temperature.

FERREA reinforced exhaust valves

On the Chrysler and Dodge 2.0 16V, two exhaust valves per cylinder see gases go by that heat their head to 760 to 870 °C in a naturally aspirated engine, and beyond 1,000 °C after a turbo or supercharger is bolted on. Most of that energy escapes where the head rests on its seat, near 75 %, the rest largely through the stem rubbing in its guide, around 20 %. A plain valve steel from the EV8 family holds 550 MPa near 600 °C yet drops to 300 near 800 °C: under heavy load the head softens, warps and lets gas past.

FERREA's F1544P comes from the Competition Plus line, a high-temperature stainless with a hard-chrome coated stem. This line gains 20 % in hot strength while the seat lasts 25 % longer than with a plain valve. Hard chrome cuts friction in the guide and slows stem wear, valuable when the engine regularly sees high revs. It fits road use as well as a naturally aspirated build.

It keeps the engine's stock size: 30.5 mm head, 5.9 mm stem and 109.8 mm length. The exhaust seats therefore retain their original diameter; careful refacing is enough to regain an even contact band and keep heat flowing into the cylinder head.

Exhaust valve technical specifications

Valve fitting

On reassembly, check that the collets sit properly in the stem groove and replace any that are marked or distorted.

At standard size, the exhaust seats are simply reground with the new valves to restore an even contact band and good heat transfer.

The 5.9 mm stem slides in the guide: measure the clearance and replace the valve stem seals at every cylinder head rebuild.

Technical guide

Our brand

FERREA Racing Components, set up in 1978 by Daniel Urrutia together with Horacio Ferrea, machines its own valves, in stainless, nickel alloys or titanium, at plants in Florida and Argentina. Engine shops worldwide install them, from NASCAR stock cars to dragsters.

How to choose

Trapped beneath the retainer, the collets engage the stem groove and keep the valve captive. This engine has a single version: the choice then depends on the seats and on what the Neon or Stratus will be used for.

When reinforced valves become necessary

• Sharper cams or noticeably stiffer valve springs
• Rev ceiling raised on a tuned 2.0 16V
• Forced induction fitted to the stock engine
• Cylinder head redone for circuit, rally or hill events
• Factory valves burnt, pitted or starting to leak

Vehicle compatibility

OEM part number (exhaust valve):

Don't forget the inlet valves

With the 2.0 16V head off, plan new inlet valves and new stem seals as well, so that the entire valvetrain starts its second life on sound foundations.