Composite timing cover

[spyderdrifter]

So since the trouble I just went through with my oil pump sprocket, I was thinking about bringing my timing cover to work and repair it with some Kevlar cloth, but then decided to build one from Kevlar. Turns out I bought some silver carbon fiber cloth, which I should receive next week. Just gotta build some molds now. I'll keep you all posted on the progress.

 

[dsmTripp]

Should turn out good. Ive had this thought several times when i picked up my blue hybrid carbon fiber cloth. Keep us updated with pictures and the process.

 

[2GbTalonGuy]

It should look pretty good on your car. +1 on pics when available.

 

[spyderdrifter]

Should receive the cloth next week, but still gotta get the resin, and vacuum sealing materials to do it right. Plus the stuff to build my molds. If this goes right, and it should based on my experience, I'll be building these for the 6 bolts, 7 bolts, & 420A's.

 

[spyderdrifter]

So here's a question. How durable would carbon fiber be if I used it as a base for my LEDs to be mounted on for my tail lights? Would it stand up to the continuous heat from the bulbs?

 

[1gAWD92]

So here's a question. How durable would carbon fiber be if I used it as a base for my LEDs to be mounted on for my tail lights? Would it stand up to the continuous heat from the bulbs?

dont see why that wouldnt work. carbon is vary heat resistent. should work great. would look good too.

 

[Gruff511]

So here's a question. How durable would carbon fiber be if I used it as a base for my LEDs to be mounted on for my tail lights? Would it stand up to the continuous heat from the bulbs?

Carbon Fiber would be good for that. You should do a HOW TO: on that since im in the process of making LED tail lights too and im doing it with fiberglass.

 

[NHerron]

+1K * 2
I hate my timing cover for it being so expensive and not fitting at all. True that's my fault for changing out to a 6 bolt but still, I would love something that fits for the ever popular swap.
The motor mount had me cut alot out, which I covered with gorilla tap once it was bolted in. If you could make something along the lines of a 3 piece cover that would be rockin'

 

[spyderdrifter]

+1K * 2
I hate my timing cover for it being so expensive and not fitting at all. True that's my fault for changing out to a 6 bolt but still, I would love something that fits for the ever popular swap.
The motor mount had me cut alot out, which I covered with gorilla tap once it was bolted in. If you could make something along the lines of a 3 piece cover that would be rockin'

If you could give me more details of how you'd like to see the 3 pieces split up, it would help. Also, since you got a 6 bolt, I'm gonna assume you have a 7 bolt head (hoping I'm not wrong there), are you wanting to see a cover built for that combo that doesn't need to be modded? Simply a cover that'll fit over a 6 bolt block/ 7 bolt head like it came stock? If so, I can go ahead and work that out. I thought about that sort of thing when I had my 6 bolt eclipse last year. Let me know.

Carbon Fiber would be good for that. You should do a HOW TO: on that since im in the process of making LED tail lights too and im doing it with fiberglass.

Are you wanting a HOW TO on the carbon fiber process, or the tail light build with the carbon structure?



Here's a pic of the carbon cloth. Will be taking a section to work tomorrow to build a piece for some electronics.

 

[bryanwheat]

If you could give me more details of how you'd like to see the 3 pieces split up, it would help. Also, since you got a 6 bolt, I'm gonna assume you have a 7 bolt head (hoping I'm not wrong there), are you wanting to see a cover built for that combo that doesn't need to be modded? Simply a cover that'll fit over a 6 bolt block/ 7 bolt head like it came stock? If so, I can go ahead and work that out. I thought about that sort of thing when I had my 6 bolt eclipse last year. Let me know.





Are you wanting a HOW TO on the carbon fiber process, or the tail light build with the carbon structure?

It's not about using a 7 bolt head, the timing covers bolt to the head the same. The difference is the motor mount bracket. The bracket on a 1g and 2g are different so when put a 6 bolt in a 2g the timing cover has to be modified to fit around the bracket. If you use a 2g timing cover it has to be modified to fit around the water pump and oil filter housing.

 

[spyderdrifter]

I see. I can work something out for that. I forgot about the difference in mounts. I never modded any covers for my 6 bolt. The cover on it when I bought it was all kinds of jacked up when I bought the car, and never put one back on after rebuilding the engine. Should have, but the original fell apart when I removed it.

 

[Gruff511]

Are you wanting a HOW TO on the carbon fiber process, or the tail light build with the carbon structure?

Just the tail light build with carbon fiber.

 

[NHerron]

Ok I got some info. But first, how well would this hold up? It seems like a lot of work to mock up one of these while making sure it doesn't contact the timing belt. I wouldn't like the idea of flimsiness, but let me know what you think since I've never dealt with carbon fiber.

SECOND picture is the OEM unmodified timing cover for a 1G with a rough cut where it would separate into two pieces.

FIRST picture is of the same cover but I found someone on DSMtalk who modified it to fit the 2G mount, MUCH better than I did with my duct tape nonsense.

So combine the two pictures and you get a perfect cutout to fit the 2G mount AND being two pieces. The reason for the two pieces is so you wouldn't have to wrestle to get it out the bottom of the car since the 2G mount protrudes out far enough to cause a problem.

You can do this fine with the 1G timing cover (which I should have done in the first place) but again, I'm not sure how easy it would be to make one out of carbon fiber. I would love to sport CF though!

 

[spyderdrifter]

Ok I got some info. But first, how well would this hold up? It seems like a lot of work to mock up one of these while making sure it doesn't contact the timing belt. I wouldn't like the idea of flimsiness, but let me know what you think since I've never dealt with carbon fiber.

SECOND picture is the OEM unmodified timing cover for a 1G with a rough cut where it would separate into two pieces.

FIRST picture is of the same cover but I found someone on DSMtalk who modified it to fit the 2G mount, MUCH better than I did with my duct tape nonsense.

So combine the two pictures and you get a perfect cutout to fit the 2G mount AND being two pieces. The reason for the two pieces is so you wouldn't have to wrestle to get it out the bottom of the car since the 2G mount protrudes out far enough to cause a problem.

You can do this fine with the 1G timing cover (which I should have done in the first place) but again, I'm not sure how easy it would be to make one out of carbon fiber. I would love to sport CF though!

Sweet, looks like a good plan so far. I definitely think there'll be many who'd want a cover like that. Great idea. It won't be flimsy either. Going to do probably 6 layers in alternating weave direction for added strength. If I need more layers, I'll add them. My ending goal is to have the same thickness as the original cover so clearance doesn't become a problem.

Just the tail light build with carbon fiber.

No problem. Might be awhile, but I'll do a write-up once I start that build.

 

[spyderdrifter]

Well the piece I did at work came out decently. Bad part is I had to used a resin I didn't want to use because its a thicker resin, but it still worked. Didn't have time to post this last night, so pics won't go up until tonight when I get home from work. I did just a flat, 2 layer panel to cover the radio slot. Today I'm gonna do a piece with curves and bends. One of my friends wants to see how it'll come out. Plus I'm gonna use what's called 'peel-ply' to give a slightly textured finish without the glossy look. The one I did yesterday is shiny on both sides due to the plastic sheets I had it sandwiched between during curing. More tonight...

 

[gixrman]

If you could verify please were your getting silver carbon fiber? I believe you mean silver texium which is a silver(aluminum) coated fiberglass. Carbon fiber is black and you can get it weaved with Kevlar and fiberglass for color variations. Also the problem with heat is with the resin not the fiber.

 

[spyderdrifter]

If you could verify please were your getting silver carbon fiber? I believe you mean silver texium which is a silver(aluminum) coated fiberglass. Carbon fiber is black and you can get it weaved with Kevlar and fiberglass for color variations. Also the problem with heat is with the resin not the fiber.

If in fact it really is just fiberglass, then I was unaware of that info. Never seen it mentioned anywhere before. Here's the link....

Silver Hexcel Texalium Fabric 2x2 Twill 50 3k 8oz - $19.99 : Carbon Fiber Panels/Sheets, Fabric/Cloth, COLORED Carbon/Kevlar, Composite Envisions

 

[spyderdrifter]

So as promised, here are some pictures for the update...

My project is still far from completion, but this was just a test piece anyway. I will be making another flat panel with a few more layers to fit down in the radio slot for my race electronics, then add some turn lock fasteners for easy removal.

 

[miguelmcv]

Talking about the Timing belt cover.
I Just shorted the 1g cover to accept the 2g middle cover, this way it looks like stock, you will not see any difference from the top, You just have to use the top and middle cover from the 2g and use half of the lower 1g cover.

Here is the spot where you have to cut (black Line).

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

 

[NHerron]

Excellent idea miguelmcv Did you trim the bottom hole of the 1G cover at all? Or just cut where you illustrated and bolted on?

I'm ashamed at the condition of my timing cover now.

 

[007jimmy]

im definitly interested in the composite timing cover specially in silver. waiting patiantly. I need a new cover bad considering my harmonic balancer seporated and rubbed through at the bottom and I no longer have a middle or top piece.

 

[miguelmcv]

Excellent idea miguelmcv Did you trim the bottom hole of the 1G cover at all? Or just cut where you illustrated and bolted on?

I'm ashamed at the condition of my timing cover now.

I did trim the bottom part to accept the 2g motor mount bracket though.

 

[1998_gst]

love the silver, looks great!

 

[007jimmy]

any updates on this?

 

[spyderdrifter]

Sorry, no updates yet. Been busy with work, we just got a new helicopter to tear down and today I start all my structural inspections so probably nothing tonight either. Surprisingly I got tomorrow off, so I should be out in my garage doing something constructive.