German Valve Cover Bales, Black — Spring Steel Pair | VW Beetle, Bus, Ghia, Type 3 & Thing 1961–1979 (#E24)
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German Valve Cover Bales, Black — Spring Steel Pair (#E24)
Part #E24 is a pair of German-made spring-steel valve cover bales in black that replace VW 043 101 487. They fit 40hp and later upright air-cooled engines with stamped-steel bale-clip covers: Beetle and Super Beetle 1961–1979, Karmann Ghia 1961–1974, Bus 1961–1971 (1200–1600cc), Type 3 1962–1973, Thing 1973–1974 and Type 1 buggies. Not 36hp, Type 4 or bolt-on billet covers.
Part numbers: #E24 · Replaces VW 043 101 487 / 043101487 / 043-101-487 (valve cover bale / bail clip)
Fitment
| Years | Vehicle | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1961–1979 | VW Beetle | 40hp and later upright engine, stamped-steel bale-clip covers |
| 1971–1979 | VW Super Beetle | |
| 1961–1974 | VW Karmann Ghia | |
| 1961–1971 | VW Bus (Type 2) | 1200cc / 1500cc / 1600cc |
| 1962–1973 | VW Type 3 | |
| 1973–1974 | VW Thing | |
| — | Dune buggies, sand rails and kit cars | Running a Type 1 engine |
| — | Does not fit: 36hp engines | Different cover and bale |
| 1972 and later | Does not fit: Type 4 engines (Bus, 411, 412, Porsche 914) | |
| — | Does not fit: bolt-on billet covers | Those use studs and nuts |
Specifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Part number / SKU | #E24 |
| Interchange | VW 043 101 487 |
| Material | Spring steel, German |
| Finish | Black |
| Sold as | Pair (2 bales, one per valve cover) |
| Dimensions / weight | 10 x 4 x 2 in boxed, 0.3 lb |
| Sold by | Washburn's Metal, Orange, California |
Which bales do you need?
| Listing | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| #E24 — German valve cover bales (black) (this one) | Spring-steel German bales with full factory clamping tension, black finish | Restorations, rebuilds, and any cover that has been weeping oil |
| #E26 — Aftermarket valve cover bales (zinc) | Yellow-zinc plated aftermarket bales, correct shape, lighter tension | Budget replacement for a missing or bent bale on a driver |
What's included
- Two German spring-steel bales, one for each valve cover
Why it matters
A valve cover only seals as well as the bale holding it down. Old bales lose their spring after decades of heat cycles and cheap replacements often start out soft, so the cork gasket never gets pressed evenly and the engine weeps oil down the heads and onto the heater boxes. These are formed to the factory shape — the center dip rides over the cover's ribs and the hooked ends catch the cylinder-head ledge — with the tension needed to seat a fresh cork gasket all the way around.
Installation notes
- Seat a new cork gasket in the valve cover. Our #E22 German cork valve cover gaskets fit.
- Hold the cover against the head and hook both bale ends under the ledge on the cylinder head.
- Push the center of the bale up and over into the dip on the cover with a large screwdriver until it snaps into place.
- Run the engine to temperature and check the flange for seepage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many valve cover bales do I need?
One per valve cover, so one pair per engine. This listing is a pair.
Do #E24 valve cover bales fit a 1967 VW Beetle?
Yes. They fit every 40hp and later upright engine from 1961 through 1979.
Will these bales fit a 36hp engine?
No. The 36hp uses a different cover and bale.
What VW part number do these bales replace?
VW 043 101 487, the valve cover bale (bail clip).
German or aftermarket valve cover bales?
German bales (#E24, black) hold more clamping tension through heat cycles and are the choice for rebuilds and oil leaks. Aftermarket bales (#E26, yellow zinc) cost less and suit replacing a lost or bent bale on a driver.
Can I buy them with valve covers?
Yes. Our #E20 and #E21 valve cover listings have bale and gasket options you can add.
Related parts
- #E22 German cork valve cover gaskets
- #E20 New old stock VW valve covers
- #E21 German valve covers with -8 AN bungs
- Engine · All Air-Cooled VW
⚠️ WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals which are known to the State of California to cause cancer and reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
