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

Tasked with letting the burnt gases out, the exhaust valve is the hottest part of the cylinder head: the metal of its head reaches 760 to 870 °C on a naturally aspirated engine and exceeds 1,000 °C when turbocharged. It gives about 75 % of that heat to the seat and 20 % to the guide, which requires perfect contact every time it closes. A common EV8 family valve steel still holds 550 MPa at 600 °C but only 300 MPa at 800 °C: beyond that, the head overheats, fatigues, distorts and the seal is eventually lost.

FERREA makes this valve in its Competition Plus range, in high temperature stainless steel. The maker states 20 % more hot strength for this range and a seat life extended by 25 % compared with a conventional valve. The hard chrome stem slides in the guide with less friction and wears more slowly. Fitted at standard size, it replaces the production valve without enlarging the cylinder head seats.

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, founded in 1978 by Horacio Ferrea and Daniel Urrutia, manufactures its valves in its own plants in Florida and Argentina. Its production covers stainless steel, nickel base superalloys and titanium, and supplies NASCAR, drag racing and circuit engine builders around the world.

How to choose

Seated in the stem groove under the retainer, the collets hold the valve in place. A single version is offered for this engine: the choice depends mainly on how the engine is used and on the condition of its cylinder head.

When reinforced valves become necessary

• More aggressive camshafts or stiffer valve springs
• Higher maximum engine speed
• Fitting a turbocharger or a supercharger
• Cylinder head rebuild on a track or rally engine
• Burnt, marked or leaking production valves

Vehicle compatibility

OEM part number (exhaust valve):

Don't forget the inlet valves

With the Chrysler 2.0 16V cylinder head off, this is the time to replace the inlet valves and the valve stem seals as well, so that the whole valvetrain starts again from new parts.