M. Porter, Senior Executive, Master of Art, San Jose
Answered Mar 30, 2020
OHV stands for overhead value, and OHC means overhead camshaft configuration of the cylinder head. The OHV is a more efficient design but less efficient, while the power output is higher compared to OHC. Overhead value cylinder head configuration is used in today’s modern-day engines where valves are positioned over the cylinder.
It is much different from the older engines in which valves were installed next to the cylinders. In OHV engines, the camshaft is below the cylinder head, which uses rocker arms and pushrods to determine the values in the cylinder head configuration. It does not have the number of pushrods and lifters to handle. More power is relocated to the crankshaft in an OHC configuration.