Opinions on keeping timing belt cover and shields

[narfire]

Is there a paint that will last on the plastic and right on the heat of the engine? I'd like to go silver with mine like I've seen a lot of people do

I've painted mine yellow.
I cleaned both sides with brake cleaner and scrubbed well. Wiped down and sprayed with "sandable primer" ,if I noticed any bubbling then wiped down with brake cleaner again.Let it dry and then several coats of Krylon yellow I think. Let it dry well between coats and then a coat of rattle can clear coat. I found on the metal parts I have painted, clear coat on top of the silver the colour went to a kind of peuter colour, don't know what would happen on plastic.
At the moment though, my timing belt is going "commando"
Chris

[Raze]

I cut mine at the top as described on page 1 but a bit lower down and I don't reuse the top, I got tired of having to bleed the coolant system every time I had to take the timing cover on and off, and when I was rebuilding the head and working on the coolant system upgrade. I used an angle grinder and a thin cutoff wheel. I cleaned it up with a file and some sand paper since it's just plastic. I also sanded it down and degreased it and painted it with black engine enamel, front and back, turned out nice and the paint self levels, resistant to heat / solvents and doesn't crack or flake:



Gives me easy ability to work on the timing without having to deal with the coolant system. It also gives some protection against road elements. If you've worked around a lot of newer Japanese vehicles, most don't having covers over the cams, and working on or around a running engine isn't a good idea, just my opinion...

[maytag]

so, While I disagree completely that the covers are there for any reason other than lawyers, I WILL admit that I have NO IDEA how cutting the top off of the cover is any different than removing it all-together?
Why would one do that?

[Raze]

Why would one do that?

read my post above, it makes things a lot faster and simpler when you need to work on the head and have to reset timing, or want to adjust your timing because you don't have to crack open the cooling system/rebleed...

[maytag]

Why would one do that?

read my post above, it makes things a lot faster and simpler when you need to work on the head and have to reset timing, or want to adjust your timing because you don't have to crack open the cooling system/rebleed...

Okay, but why not remove it all together?

[Raze]

Why would one do that?

read my post above, it makes things a lot faster and simpler when you need to work on the head and have to reset timing, or want to adjust your timing because you don't have to crack open the cooling system/rebleed...

Okay, but why not remove it all together?

The timing marks for the crank are on the lower part of the cover, you kinda need that to set the timing...

[Weelan]

Couldn't you cut the top piece to slide it down over the tube that's in the way?

[rrs]

I have read a few threads on about the whether it is okay to run without the t-belt covers, but I have yet to see anyone mention that 2.0 pistons were re-designed so that they are no longer "interference" engines - i.e., if the belt breaks the pistons and valves do not crash. In addition, earlier 1.8 engines that have been rebuilt *should* have the redesigned pistons so they are also no longer interference engines. In my opinion, if you have a 2.0 or rebuilt 1.8 engine a broken timing belt is in inconvinience but not an engine shattering event - your pistons will not hit your valves. This post is based entirely on information I read in my shop manually, so please let me know if somehow my manual is incorrect. Thanks-

[Weelan]

That makes me feel better thanks rrs. Now if it happens, not that I'm expecting it since the belt is new, I wont freak out and think the engine is dead. Thanks for the explanation.

[rja]

i guess this qualifies for this thread. having a '74, i am 'blessed' w/the big aluminum cover that extends over the air pump (which is no longer there) and the upper bracket accordingly. wondering if you can retrofit one of those sparkling-looking yellow plastic covers and the upper bracket for it? probably need an exhaust cam pulley sans the extra 'cogs' that drove said missing air pump, also? any thoughts?

[rodman]

I cut mine at the top as described on page 1 but a bit lower down and I don't reuse the top, I got tired of having to bleed the coolant system every time I had to take the timing cover on and off, and when I was rebuilding the head and working on the coolant system upgrade. I used an angle grinder and a thin cutoff wheel. I cleaned it up with a file and some sand paper since it's just plastic. I also sanded it down and degreased it and painted it with black engine enamel, front and back, turned out nice and the paint self levels, resistant to heat / solvents and doesn't crack or flake:



Gives me easy ability to work on the timing without having to deal with the coolant system. It also gives some protection against road elements. If you've worked around a lot of newer Japanese vehicles, most don't having covers over the cams, and working on or around a running engine isn't a good idea, just my opinion...

Are your heads and intake painted or polished?